Adam Devine can make James Tavernier 'look over his shoulder'

Adam Devine hasn’t enjoyed a gradual phasing in process at Rangers. Before playing against Hibs the 19-year-old’s only other starts arrived in a dead-rubber Hearts tie last season and League Cup wins against lower league opposition under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Despite his first meaningful run of football coming out of position at left-back, Devine’s performances have impressed. Michael Beale’s message before a first game in charge was ‘we trust you’ and since, the academy graduate has looked more at home than out of place.

“He’s a young boy who has come into the team unexpectedly and he’s come into the team playing out of position,” Beale said in his press conference following Friday’s 1-0 win against Ross County.

“Physically and mentally he’s been challenged and I think he’s come up trumps. We should be delighted with his form so far but it is just the start. He’s gone away to Pittodrie, he’s come away here tonight, he’s played in front of a nervous crowd at Ibrox against Hibs and I think he’s done excellently.”

These showings have come from the left rather than the right. Beale’s full-backs are generally freed from responsibility in build-up and push high on the last line, allowing the attack to occupy central pockets of the pitch. Particularly against County, Devine was often Rangers’ out ball running in behind. On another day he could’ve had an assist if Fashion Sakala reacted sharper to a cross.

“It was a key aspect, how many times we got Adam on a cross-field ball,” Beale added after the match.

READ MORE: John Lundstram's dropping deep was key for Rangers in Ross County win

26 of the 41 passes played to Devine in the Highlands were in the opposition half, with numerous diagonal cross-field balls as shown below.

“Adam has done himself no harm,” Beale added with Borna Barisic’s return following the World Cup imminent.

“I think he will jump up 25% if he moved across to his natural position, certainly in attacking areas of the pitch. The captain also needs to look over his shoulder and that’s what I want. It’s not about coming back in and being romantic with the group I worked with precisely, this is about trying to build a new Rangers and the cornerstone of that has to be young players.”

There’s no question Devine’s final ball will improve when playing on his favoured side. Given his strength timing runs in behind and natural physicality, you’d expect the Scotland youth international to better capitalise on the positions he assumes when not attacking through balls on his unfavoured side.

Beale has spoken about the importance of competition since arriving at Ibrox. Certainly at right-back, he has a young player more then capable of pushing Tavernier.