Brendan Rodgers tried to sign Rangers star Steven Davis at Liverpool reveals ex-Gers pal
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STEVEN DAVIS is the quiet man who lets his football do the talking.
But David Healy reckons there would have been plenty more noise about the Rangers midfielder if he had come from Argentina or Spain.
The 37-year-old is gearing up for another season with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side after penning a new one-year deal earlier this summer.
As well as being a hero to the Ibrox faithful, Davis is a legend to Northern Irish fans after becoming Britain’s most-capped international player.
Former team-mate Healy said: “Davo certainly isn’t a bawler and shouter.
“He leads by example through his professionalism and the way he trains.
“When he is on it, when he is at his best, he plays in tight little areas and around people.
“There are some players who wouldn’t even be aware that the space was on but Davo is.
“He is one of the best midfielders I have played with.
“If he had been Spanish, Italian, French or from Argentina, journalists and people would have raved about him.
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“If he’d come into the English Premier League from Argentina instead of being from Cullybackey then he’d have been announced a better player.
“I know Brendan Rodgers had a sniff around him when he was the manager at Liverpool. He ended up signing Joe Allen around that time instead.
“If Steven hadn’t been from Northern Ireland he may have got a really top move and that’s how much I rate him.
“He was a dream to play with for a striker but he was also a dream for any manager as well. He has that quality that every team needs.”
Davis made 45 appearances for club and country last season and helped Rangers reach the Europa League final.
Some fans feared his days in Govan were coming to an end, with St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson revealing last week he tried to lure the veteran to the Buddies.
But Davis’ heart is with his boyhood side and he signed a new contract.
Ex-Gers team-mate Healy believes he can be vital as they look to win back the Premiership title from Celtic.
He added: “I always had a feeling Davo would play on and stay at Rangers.
“He’s a phenomenal player and he’s a brilliant guy and I have no doubt when he does retire all the clubs he has been at will thank him. All the managers he’s had have always spoken highly of him.
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“He’s highly thought of in the dressing room by the players and I’m not surprised he will stay at Rangers.
“Whether he plays 80 per cent of the games or whatever remains to be seen. Some of the games he came on in last season, he showed his quality and Rangers will need that.
“He understands the club and if the manager needs someone to speak to, Davo is there.
“Obviously the manager played for the club as well but Davo knows the dressing room inside and out as well as the whole club.
“He could be someone who could lend an ear to him every now and again.”
Allan McGregor was another who Healy played with during his spell in Glasgow a decade ago.
He watched the Ibrox No 1 coming off the bench late on in the Scottish Cup final win over Hearts in May.
Gers fan Healy thought then that Greegsy would move on — but he’s delighted to see the 40-year-old staying for another season.
He said: “I watched the Scottish Cup final and I saw Greegsy coming on.
“I thought, ‘Oh no’ as I thought it was going to be his last game for the club.
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“His performances over the last few seasons might have surprised a few people. But he is someone, like Davo, who knows the club inside and out and he sets standards and then demands that they are met.”
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