STEVEN GERRARD hailed Nathan Patterson as Scotland’s in-form right-back after a stunning first start in Sunday’s Old Firm win.

The 19-year-old has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks as he has deputised for injured captain James Tavernier.

He produced another excellent performance as a Steven Davis strike and own goal from Jonjoe Kenny moved Rangers into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Patterson has been tipped for a place in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the European Championships this summer after a remarkable rise and rise for Rangers.

He faces a Scottish FA hearing this week that could rule him out for a handful of fixtures following his Covid breach but Gerrard was full of praise for the youngster on the day that Tavernier returned to the squad following his injury lay-off.

Gerrard said: “If there is a better right back in the country on form, I would like to see it.

“I would like to see it. If there is a better right back, on current form, that is Scottish, in the league, I would like to see it.

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“I don’t have a choice in that department [if Tavernier comes straight back in]. The timing just happens naturally. James is available and we would have used him today if needed.

“Nathan got a kick in the last 15 minutes, we were wondering if he’d got a bit of cramp.

"He emptied the tank for us today and his performance was outstanding.

“He has become a man in a short space of time. He’s maturing. We are still going to work on his body to make him bigger and stronger.

“He’ll hopefully be back to finish this season with us and have a really strong pre-season to develop him from a physical and football point of view.

“There is still loads more to come from Nathan which is really exciting.”