On Wednesday lunchtime Steven Gerrard was telling his club’s TV service that it was FAKE NEWS the claim, initially in the Daily Mail, that James Tavernier had suffered a mystery injury.
The following day the former Wigan utility man was leading his side out against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League but after needing the same injury treated three times he was replaced in the 24th minute by Leon Balogun.
While he enjoyed a 4-3 win over a Belgian side with seven regulars it looks like the win was achieved at quite a price with co-commentators Alex Rae and Stephen Craigan concerned by the injury to Tavernier.
After coming off following his second dose of treatment Tav played the hero going back on but Craigan warned BT Sport viewers about the impact of kicking a ball, when he tried that the full-back was flat out on the pitch and in obvious distress.
Fake News. pic.twitter.com/hrKKQFkUyR
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 17, 2021
The Sun reports Gerrard saying:
Obviously James going off as well (Kemar Roofe) was also substituted during the first half) James never goes off the pitch so that worries me a bit as well. We’ll look at both situations, we’ll analyse them over the next couple of days and hopefully they’re not as bad as first feared.
The usual deputy, Nathan Patterson was watching the match from home in self isolation after joining team-mates at a party on Saturday night.