Butland pays tribute to how inspirational Captain Tav bounces back from the defeats, set-backs and disappointments

Jack Butland has praised the inspirational qualities of James Tavernier and explained why the serial loser is an example for all at Ibrox!

The former Crystal Palace reserve is a relative rookie compared to the skipper who has nine seasons of failure on his CV highlighted by watching Celtic win five of the eight trebles in their history.

Tavernier has survived through it all, through changes in manager, Chairmen and CEOs to pick up his bumper wage packet in compensation for slipping on the armband then taking all of the free-kicks, penalties, corners and throw-ins

After failing to secure a move out of Ibrox during the summer the defender is into his 10th season at Ibrox which has left many supporters despairing at the lack of change.

That attitude came to a head after the recent 3-0 defeat from Celtic when some supporters gathered outside of Ibrox with the club captain the main target of their anger.

Following three successive victories it seems that all is well again at Ibrox with Butland telling The Times about the unseen qualities that Tavernier brings to the table:

We’ve seen and witnessed some of the things that he’s been subject to. That’s part and parcel of being captain of this football club, but to come back and to keep doing what he does, to keep performing for us, to put the team on his shoulders with the penalties, with his play in general and what he does around the team.

I can only imagine what he has to deal with on a daily basis, but what he does is perform. He keeps coming back and he keeps helping us and he keeps leading us. He inspires us all because for him, he lives it and he’s lived it for a long time. But it has to be like water off a duck’s back.

When you have those defeats, the worst thing you can do is follow it up with another defeat. You have to dust yourself down, you’ve got to go again. That’s what this football club is all about and that’s what Tav does.

For us to see that, for him to continue to be a smiley face in the changing room, continuing to set standards and continuing to push … if he was to go the other way with us, it then becomes very difficult for everybody else.

Tav is a very unflappable character. You see very little change in him day to day. He knows what he’s got to do, he knows the responsibility of wearing the badge, wearing the armband. If he was to come in days moping around, it would bring everyone else down. So that’s a testament to him.

We’ve got to continue to support him, he’s still going to have massive moments in this football club. We’ve got huge ambitions for this season and he’s always a huge part of that.

During the summer Butland was being lined up for the captaincy but has had to settle for the role of unofficial club spokesman with no other club prepared to match Tavernier’s salary.