STEVEN Gerrard said last night that he will talk things over with captain James Tavernier before determining whether he continues with spot kick duties for Rangers. The penalty which struck the post in the early stages of Thursday night’s Europa League win against Feyenoord was the second miss in a row for a man who also failed to convert in Europe against Progres Niederkorn earlier this year.

It comes on the back of a season, though, when he scored a remarkable 14 spot kicks from 16 attempts, a further perfect four efforts from 12 yards in 2017-18, and an 82% success rate in all. Given such a strike rate, it is fair to assume that the gig remains Tavernier’s for the moment – assuming he is happy to keep stepping up the plate.

“I will have a chat with him over the penalty because that is two on the spin now and get a feel for where he is at with it now,” said Gerrard. "But in terms of belief and confidence, James is a big player for us. To be a matchwinner at right back is very unusual and he has won us many a game with moments of brilliance, whether it be from open play or from a free kick, or a big penalty.

"Penalty takers miss penalties – that is the way it is unless you are Harry Kane at the minute.

"The chat I will have with James is, are you confident you will score the next one? Do you want to take the next one? Then we will deal with the situation from there, but he played his part in a clean sheet on Thursday night, that is more important to me than the penalty miss. And the reaction of the whole team to the penalty miss is more important to me.

“I can’t see him saying no but you will know when we get the next one! Listen, he has been outstanding from the spot. That is two from fifteen, maybe that he has missed. It is still not a bad record, is it? There are other penalty takers around him if he doesn’t fancy it. He hasn’t missed a training session, hasn’t missed a game, so I think that shows the mental strength of the player. He is very robust.”

Alfredo Morelos would be one common sense alternative to Tavernier but Gerrard insisted that it does automatically follow that all prolific strikers are deadly from 12 yards. “If I had said to Robbie Fowler early on that I was on the penalties I would probably have got a backhander,” said Gerrard. “If I had said it to [Alan] Shearer on England duty I would probably get a forearm. As you get older, you get more experience, you earn the right.

“Fernando Torres, one of the best centre forwards I played with, doesn't fancy taking penalties,” the Englishman added. “It is down to confidence, belief and bravery. I think James will be fine.”