Gareth McAuley delivers verdict on Rangers midfielder Steven Davis

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Gareth McAuley has told Sky Sports News (Wednesday, 11am) that he believes Rangers midfielder Steven Davis has plenty more years left in the tank, but reckons he may have to give up international football soon.

Davis, 34, is in fine form for Rangers under Steven Gerrard and remains a crucial part of Northern Ireland’s bid to qualify for Euro 2020 next summer. Indeed, Davis has started 13 of Northern Ireland’s last 14 matches

He is just as important for Rangers as Gerrard’s midfield anchor. Davis – who turns 35 in January – has clocked up 21 appearances for The Gers this season, starring in both matches against Porto and their bid to match Celtic in the title race.

McAuley, who was released by Rangers last summer, has claimed that Davis has plenty more left in his legs but did claim that perhaps Davis will have to call time on his Northern Ireland career to further his longevity at club level.

TBR’s view – Rangers have got to hand Davis a new contract

The veteran midfielder has a contract until May 2020. It means, as it stands, that Rangers will be forced to wave goodbye to Davis at the end of the season – if they do not offer him a new deal.

Davis is showing the kind of fitness expected of a player in his twenties, but it is also helpful for Davies that he has slightly adapted his role. Instead of being a box-to-box midfielder, he sits slightly deeper – giving him time to recover.

But as he remains crucially important, Davis deserves a new deal and Rangers must look to keep him.