It’s nine months since Steven Gerrard fired a reminder to James Tavernier and Borna Barisic that they shouldn’t take their Rangers starting places for granted.
The timing of the Rangers manager’s words came as a bit of a surprise given his flying full backs had contributed to a stunning start to the season.
Days earlier Barisic had provided yet another assist with a pinpoint cross for Alfredo Morelos to head home the winner against Lech Poznan.
Tavernier had netted nine goals and the pair had started all but two of the 17 games - Barisic missed two through injury - as November approached.
Yet on the eve of a trip to Rugby Park, when the point was put to Gerrard that the pair had played a key role he used it instead to let them know they couldn’t let those standards drop.
And it was the full-backs behind them who were given a namecheck as he referenced both Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey, the youngster from Leicester who had deputised in those two games Barisic missed.
Gerrard said of the youngsters: “The pair of them have started the season really strongly, and it’s interesting to watch Barisic and Tavernier because they have now got competition for places.
“The way he’s looking in training, I wouldn’t think twice about putting Patterson in to start a game. And Bassey has already proved that he’s capable of stepping in as well.
“Both James and Borna know they have a challenge for their positions, which is good.”
Forty eight hours later and those in possession of the jersey underlined their importance as Tavernier reached double figures for the season with a penalty winner against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The respective tasks facing Patterson and Bassey were tough to dislodge two of the main men in Gerrard’s side.
And it got a whole lot bigger when the pair were two of five Rangers players who breached COVID rules that saw them hit with six-game bans.
There were even fears for their Ibrox futures when the news first emerged that they had attended a party but Gerrard stood by them.
And their position has strengthened following impressive performances, albeit against a limited Dunfermline side, in the 5-0 Premier Sports Cup last-16 win at Ibrox.
Bassey earned rave reviews following a man of the match display while Patterson wasn’t far behind in terms of his display.
That in itself wouldn’t be such a big surprise to Gerrard and his coaching staff but it was the timing that was crucial.
It came just days after the crushing Champions League defeat to Malmo when both Tavernier and Barisic had poor games.
Barisic looks like he is playing catch up after fitness struggles during Euro 2020 with Croatia and Bassey is now breathing down his neck.
It would be a bigger decision for Gerrard to drop his captain but few fans would argue if Patterson was given a run.
The Light Blues boss, of course, admitted he would look at playing both on the right as he considered mixing up his formation.
After a sluggish start to the season there is a need to freshen things up and it could be in giving the young full backs their chance - starting with the visit of Alashkert in the Europa League on Thursday.
