Rangers boss highlights three attributes of Bassey that make him a modern defender

Glasgow Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was on media duties on Friday before his side's Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh and one of the topics he touched on was Calvin Bassey's best position.

The Super Eagles hopeful was deployed at center back as Rangers were forced to a 1-1 draw by Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, and the own goal he scored early in the second half was the only blot on an otherwise impressive display by the 21-year-old.

Bassey has been deputising at centre-half for the recuperating Leon Balogun, going the distance in all the five matches played by the Light Blues since Van Bronckhorst officially took over the managerial reins at Rangers.

The Dutchman highlighted three attributes of Bassey that make him a modern day defender - pace, aerial presence and physicality.

When asked if center back could be Bassey's best position in the long-term, Van Bronckhorst replied : "I haven't seen him play a lot as a left-back, I saw some footage but of course in my five games here he played as a central defender so I'm really happy with him.

"He's got everything for a modern defender. He's very quick, he's good in the air, physically he's very strong.

"We are just working on him with his build-up play but he's a very good kid and like Nathan he's open to learn new things, hoping to be better every game.

"Those kind of players will give me a lot of energy to work even harder with them".

Bassey has totaled nineteen appearances in all competitions this term, which is four more than he managed in his maiden season at Rangers.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel