THE team prizes are always more important than the individual plaudits. There can be no debating that Steven Gerrard’s side are worthy title winners, but the Player of the Year award will require more deliberating before the worthy recipient can be crowned.

It is captain James Tavernier that is the leading contender and the most likely winner but the strength of Rangers this season has been their collective, the way in which Gerrard’s side have performed and improved as a unit. Rangers have been technically and tactically the most impressive outfit in the Premiership and their mentality has set them apart as they have proven that they have the mark of champions.

The core of the squad that Gerrard has relied on hasn’t let him down and there are few real disappointments amongst those that he has regularly turned to. Here, Herald and Times Sport look at the five who have been the standout performers this term.

ALLAN MCGREGOR

As Rangers racked up the clean sheets and rewrote the history books at the start of the season, there were questions raised over McGregor’s position in the side following Jon McLaughlin’s accomplished start to life at Ibrox. The rest, they say, is history.

At 39, McGregor is as good as ever and Gerrard must convince the keeper to extend his contract beyond the end of the season.

There will be a temptation to go out on a high, but McGregor is still too important to Rangers, both on and off the park.

His showings against Willem II, Celtic and Hamilton stand out, but he has been consistently superb and the levels of his performances speak volumes for his professionalism. Rangers would not be the same side without him.

JAMES TAVERNIER

So much of the focus on Tavernier surrounds his numbers in terms of goals and assists but his influence has been more significant than that as he has grown into the role of Rangers captain and now guided them to title glory.

The right-back would score 17 times by the middle of December, but even when the goals dried up he was still a driving force for Rangers.

He is a full-back in a modern sense, but his defensive capabilities have been sharpened whilst he raised the bar in attack.

The injury he suffered against Royal Antwerp was a cruel blow but there are few within the Ibrox squad that deserve to savour this success more. Tavernier has certainly played his part in it this term.

CONNOR GOLDSON

A dominant figure at the heart of the defence and in the dressing room, Goldson’s third season at Ibrox has been by far and away his most impressive and complete.

The Englishman has the upmost trust of Gerrard and his team-mates and he has rarely put a foot wrong throughout an excellent Premiership campaign and memorable Europa League run.

Goldson has chipped in with big goals against the likes of Celtic, Standard Liege and Dundee United but it is his commanding presence at the other end of the park that has been so important to Rangers. He wasn’t always a fan favourite, but he simply has to be appreciated now by supporters.

STEVEN DAVIS

The Northern Irishman has never sought praise or plaudits but the season which saw him become the record appearance holder for his country has ended with another league title.

Davis has set the standard for those around him to follow and he has been a classy operator in the middle of the park throughout a campaign that has taken him into his 36th year.

He is the ultimate professional and hugely respected but his place in the team is not given on sentiment and Gerrard doesn’t possess another midfielder that operates the way in which Davis does. Like McGregor, his services must be retained for next season.

ALFREDO MORELOS

If Lille had put enough money on the table last summer, Morelos wouldn’t have been at Ibrox to finally savour Premiership success. The Ligue 1 side may have missed out, but Morelos and Gerrard have certainly benefitted.

This hasn’t been a classic campaign in terms of goals for Morelos and he would go nearly four months between league strikes. During that time, he would break Ally McCoist’s European scoring record for Rangers.

There have been developments in his game, though, and he is a more well-rounded and complete forward today than he was last term. Morelos will head for the Ibrox exit, but he can now do so with a medal around his neck.