Steven Gerrard might regret David Bates leaving before his arrival

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Steven Gerrard may feel as though defender David Bates was allowed to leave the club too early.

Bates left Ibrox in April 2018 to join German outfit Hamburger SV.

That was one month before Gerrard took over the Scottish giants, meaning he obviously had no say in whether or not the young defender would stay at the club.

Bates joined the club in 2016 on a development loan from Raith Rovers, before making the move permanent the following summer.

He made a total of 28 appearances for the club before agreeing a four-year deal with Hamburg.

Bates was an ever-present under Graeme Murty in early 2018 but was still let go – and Gerrard must be rueing that decision he had no say in.

Were Rangers too hasty?

Bates is showing over in Germany that Rangers may well have acted a little too hastily.

So far, he’s made 10 appearances in Bundesliga 2 and massively impressed at the back.

He has shown brilliant composure and consistency, and he’s just been called up to the Scotland squad for the first time.

Bates’ development is going nicely, and Gerrard will surely have been watching from afar wondering how he was allowed to leave.

The decision is made worse knowing he left for free and Rangers currently only have Nikola Katic, Joe Worrall, Connor Goldson and veteran Gareth McAuley as recognised centre-backs.

The 22-year-old might have excelled for the Gers under Gerrard’s management, and the Liverpool legend will surely rue the decision.