Rangers captain defends form amid 'gossip'

James Tavernier dismisses talk about his performances and insists he is not affected by the 'background noise'

Tavernier has come under fire from some fans in recent weeks, with some suggesting that he is not good enough to be Rangers captain

Rangers captain James Tavernier has hit back at criticism of his performances, insisting that he is not affected by the "background noise" and is fully focused on helping the team achieve success.

Tavernier has been a key player for Rangers since joining the club in 2015, and has helped the team win two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

However, the right-back has come under fire from some fans in recent weeks, with some suggesting that he is not good enough to be Rangers captain.

But Tavernier has dismissed the criticism, saying that he is "used to it" and that he is not going to let it affect his performances.

"I'm used to it," Tavernier said. "I've been a Rangers player for a long time now and I know that there will always be people who have something to say.

"But I'm not going to let it affect me. I'm just going to keep working hard and trying to help the team win trophies."

Tavernier's comments come after Rangers manager Steven Gerrard defended his captain, saying that he is "a top player" and that he has "no doubt" that he will continue to be a key player for the team.

"James is a top player," Gerrard said. "He's been a key player for me since I came to the club and I have no doubt that he will continue to be a key player for us going forward.

"He's a leader on and off the pitch and he's a big part of this team."