JAMES TAVERNIER insists he wants to be known for his defensive capabilities as much as his scoring exploits for Rangers.

The right-back has netted nine times for the Light Blues already this term as he has quickly become a firm favourite with the Ibrox crowd and been labelled ‘the Blue Cafu’ by adoring supporters.

Tavernier is the second top scorer for the Gers at present, with only striker Martyn Waghorn ahead of him in the charts after a superb start to the season.

Warburton’s side have stormed out of the blocks to put themselves in a commanding position in the Championship title race and will host Queen of the South on Saturday aiming to make it ten wins from ten league outings.

And Tavernier hopes he can continue to play his part at both ends of the park as Rangers set their sights on the second tier crown.

He said: “All the best full-backs out there, the likes of Ashley Cole, are known as good defenders but also great at attacking.

“I want to be known as a great defender and also great going forward. I want to have them both in my game and I still need to work hard on both aspects.

“The full-backs I look up to are Dani Alves, Marcelo and Ashley Cole. What I like is how they are always on top of their game and the best in the world at what they do.

“I’d love to be like those three players and obviously the Blue Cafu if I can try!

“I never imagined scoring this many when I came up here, the most I had scored in a season was five.

“I think it comes down to how well we are playing and how attacking minded our team is – it puts me in positions on the pitch where I can have chances and get goals and obviously set pieces help me.”

Few Gers fans knew what to expect from Tavernier when he made the move across the border in the summer and clinched a switch from Wigan Athletic.

But the 23-year-old has wasted little time in showcasing his talents in Light Blue as he has turned in a series of impressive performances.

The defender has already been touted for a return to England in the future but Tavernier is only focused on the job in hand at Ibrox.

He said: “It’s a compliment even being linked to the Premier League and playing in the best league in the world is a dream everyone wants to come true.

“I can’t say I don’t want to play in the Premier League at some stage in my career because that is what I want to do.

“It’s great to hear that but I am concentrating on working hard for Rangers and making myself a better player for us.

“I’m quite laid-back and I don’t even think about what I am going to do tomorrow, let alone the next few years.

“I wish we could just play a couple of times a week and play a game straight away, so I definitely look at the short term rather than the long term.”

After spending time out on loan at several clubs in recent seasons, Tavernier is reaping the rewards of a regular run of games on Warburton’s watch.

His form has been crucial to Rangers’ flying start to the campaign as the Ibrox crowd have been impressed with the new style and a host of fresh faces.

And the Englishman has been taken aback by the reception he has received from the Light Blue legions in recent months.

“I would call Rangers home now,” Tavernier told rangers.co.uk. “It was a dream come true signing for a club like this and I’ve hit the ground running since I came here.

“Everyone has been great to me and it definitely feels like home now.

“When you are walking through the streets of Glasgow you get the fans coming up to you, praising you and asking you for photos. It makes you feel really humble about what you do and you hope you make them happy.

“This is the club that has really kicked off my career again and I’ve just fallen in love with football all over again.”