Steven Davis is Rangers quiet man with plenty to say as Kyle Lafferty draws Walter Smith parallels

The Steven Davis that Kyle Lafferty knows is a man of few words.

As his Northern Ireland captain and the midfield stalwart who played behind him during two Ibrox spells, the new Rangers caretaker boss preferred to do his talking on the pitch. The laconic 38-year-old chose to lead through his on-field deeds rather than dressing room declarations, inspiring club and country by dictating games rather than dominating the pre-match din.

The challenge now for Davis, however, is to make his voice heard and rouse Rangers out of the early-season slump that has thrust him into the dugout at Michael Beale’s expense. But his old friend Lafferty has no doubt Davis will have the men he called team-mates – only up until the announcement of Beale’s sacking on Sunday – sitting up and taking notice when he delivers his first team-talk ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League clash in Cyprus.

Both men played for a man who was a master at making the most of a few words. Lafferty isn’t ready to start comparing his compatriot to Walter Smith just yet. But he believes those succinct similarities should ensure Davis helps Gers navigate the choppy waters that await them in the Mediterranean holiday isle as they prepare to face Aris Limassol.

“Davo’s not the type who will come in and start shouting his mouth off,” said Lafferty. “But when he talks, people listen. I don’t want to start putting him in the same bracket as Walter as it’s obviously far too early for that and let’s be honest, there will only ever be one Walter Smith.

“But he’ll have the same kind of hold that Walter had. He won’t say much but whenever he does speak, everyone will take note. When Walter spoke, you’d look round the dressing room and suddenly everyone would sit up