ALAN HUTTON is excited at the prospect of seeing James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson combining down the flank for Rangers this term.

Boss Steven Gerrard is exploring ways of fielding both players at the same time and has tried out the experiment once again in the win over Real Madrid.

And former Ibrox full-back Hutton believes there could be benefits of having Tavernier playing ahead of his young deputy on the right wing.

Hutton told RangersTV: “I am really looking forward to seeing how this develops.

“As a former full-back myself, I couldn’t have went one forward. It is too difficult, for me, to play with my back to play.

“Tavernier, I think, has got that. We know he loves to fly forward and Patterson would overlap him.

“I think it would be a good dynamic, actually, moving forward. But the manager has got so many options forward in the pitch, natural players.

“When I was playing, it was Whittaker who was in front of me. Two full-backs and we did compliment each other well.

“Whether it happens in this team, we will have to wait and find out. But it is very interesting moving forward to see how it actually works.”

Rangers rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 2-1 victory over Madrid on Sunday as Fashion Sakala and Cedric Itten found the target.

The friendly win was one to savour for supporters and Hutton was impressed with the performance as the champions prepare for the start of their title defence against Livingston.

Hutton said: “It always counts. Everybody wants to win football games, nobody wants to go out there and get beat.

“I think, outwith the result, just the performance and team performance, people watching that around the league, whoever it will be, will be saying that Rangers are up for a real fight again this coming season.

“I thought they were excellent all over the pitch. It didn’t matter who came on, what subs came on and took their place, they were excellent.

“Played really well and really looking forward to this season to see what this team can actually do.”