In a parallel universe both George Edmundson and Steven Davis are still turning out for Rangers.
When Rangers signed a fresh-faced George Edmundson from Oldham Athletic back in 2019, there were high hopes that the English centre-back could make a big impression at Ibrox.
Young, powerful and full of personality, Edmundson looked to be a shrewd acquisition in the brief moments the defender got an opportunity against Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Nikola Katic.
But as opportunities grew limited at Ibrox – and the stink caused by an infamous Covid-19 breach hung over the stopper – after only two years in Glasgow the defender secured a £1m move to Ipswich.
And what a move that has proved to be.
Davis responds to Edmundson Instagram post
Whilst Edmundson made only 10 Championship appearances last season, the defender is part of the Tractor Boys side which has just secured promotion to the Premier League.
Conversely Steven Davis, one of the defender’s former teammates at Ibrox, has seen his remarkable career cut short by a devastating cruciate ligament injury.
Now, the Northern Irish midfielder has been reacting to Edmundson on Instagram after the defender posted his celebrations on social media.
Taking to Instagram, it’s clear George Edmundson is enjoying the moment at Ipswich Town and already looking ahead to next season in the English top flight.
Responding to the post, Steven Davis said: “Well done mate, congratulations”
Steven Davis knows all about cherishing the big moments in a career and it’s nice to see the Rangers legend congratulating George Edmundson here.
But perhaps this small moment of recognition gives an insight into the qualities that made Davo a great captain, and potentially make him a great manager.
Future Rangers manager?
Make no mistake, it’s a small thing and a congratulatory message.
But the fact Davo struck up a relationship with Edmundson during the defender’s time at the club and has celebrated George’s success here points to the Ulsterman’s role as a figure of influence.
As the midfielder spent time recovering from that devastating injury that eventually ended his career, Steven Davis answered the Rangers call in the club’s time of need.
Stepping up in interim charge for clashes with Aris Limassol and St Mirren, the midfielder introduced Ross McCausland to the team and stopped the rot which had set in under Michael Beale.
That brief stint in charge of Rangers also captured the attentions of both Ibrox manager Philippe Clement and Northern Irish counterpart Michael O’Neill.
Speaking last month, Steven Davis also dropped the biggest hint yet that he has his eyes set on a more permanent move into management.
“The interim manager thing came out of the blue,” said Davis. “Those few weeks were a whirlwind, it seems like a different life.
“It was a great experience for me to get the opportunity to do that. After I made the decision to stop playing it felt like a weight off my shoulders because I was always pushing and when it wasn’t going in the right direction I got disappointed.
“It was probably the biggest learning experience of my life. As you get older you start to think what the next chapter might look like.
“Coaching and management is certainly something that interests me, but up until that point I hadn’t really done any coaching, I didn’t have my qualifications.
“Everybody was on the same page with me going in there at that time and what was being asked. They put a staff around me to help me and the boys.
“With the Limassol game, with the travelling we had, the training time we had on the pitch was very limited. After that we went straight into St Mirren, it was a whirlwind but a great experience for me. It certainly whets the appetite.”
As Steven Davis congratulates George Edmundson, something tells us the midfielder has a way with players and perhaps one day we’ll see him back at Ibrox in a different capacity.
