James Tavernier is still a Rangers weak spot as Scott Allan reveals Hibs plan formed 10 years ago that remains in use

Scott Allan has revealed that James Tavernier was targeted as a Rangers defensive weakness a DECADE ago.

Whether or not it's approaching time up for the Gers skipper as a guaranteed Ibrox starter has been debated over recent months. And those queries intensified after he was hooked with half-an-hour still to go in Thursday night's 4-1 Europa league defeat to Lyon. The League 1 side's fourth goal saw Tavernier caught out at the back post.

The 32-year-old's attacking contribution over the years isn't in question, but punters are asking whether there's a better option on his position to prevent Rangers leaking goals, with many feeling he's lost a yard and isn't quite as effective going forward either. Transfer links to Turkey over the summer came to nothing and he is set to enter his testimonial year.

But Allan admitted that even during Tavernier's maiden season in Light Blue, his Hibs side saw a way they could try and exploit the space he often left when marauding forward. It worked too as the Hibees won both of their home games against Mark Warburton's side that season.

Allan told Clyde 1 Super Scoreboard: "When I was at Hibs even ten years ago, that was our out ball. When we had the ball, could we hit that space that was left in behind, because we knew Taverner wouldn't be there. It's the same to this day."