PARKING an allegiance towards Celtic is easy for Chris Hughton when it comes to throwing whole-hearted support behind Rangers’ Europa League bid.
Hughton is heavily invested in the careers of three of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Seville stars.
James Tavernier was only 17 when granted his Newcastle debut, in a Carling Cup tie at Peterborough, by Hughton in September 2009.
Connor Goldson played for Hughton for three years at Brighton after being plucked from Shrewsbury for £600,000.
Like van Bronckhorst and Steven Gerrard, Hughton appreciates the contributions of another ex-Brighton defender, Leon Balogun.
“To see James lifting that Europa League trophy would be an incredibly proud moment for me,” admitted Hughton.
“With Connor and Leon there, too, it’s great to see them part of this outstanding campaign.
“The vast majority of good players, even internationals, to play the game don’t win a European trophy. Achievements don’t come much bigger.”
Hughton remembers Bradford-born Tavernier as a technically precocious right-back talent with a determined yet chirpy demeanour.
Circumstances, he says, contrived against the teenager. First, Hughton favoured an experienced and ready-made robust team to return relegated Newcastle to the Premier League.
When they got there, the demand was ‘stay up at all costs’. “That goes against you unless you’re just an outstanding 18-year-old who needs to be in and stays in,” admits Hughton.
“James was no different to many young players who go somewhere else to develop quicker by playing more games.
“A very dedicated lad who wanted to do well and, with good technical ability, he was definitely going to have career. But you never knew what level.”
Tavernier’s occasional travails at Rangers could’ve led to a departure before he stood a chance of growing into Premiership Invincible and Europa League final skipper.
After promoting Brighton to the English top flight, Hughton weighed up a reunion.
Hughton reveals: “We considered him a few times for Brighton, he was a player we looked at.
“We’d a lot of good options and went a different way, but he was very much on our list.
“So there might have been questions of ‘would he stay or go?’ at one time. It’s been best for him to stay and have the Rangers career that he’s had.
“Sometimes a player gets just the right fit for them. He’s totally comfortable where he is.
“Whatever the arguments about the Scottish league, he’s playing at a huge club.
“You can get sucked into that in a good way, whereby you develop within that and want the pressure.
“Or you can find it a bit harder. James’s personality allowed him to see it as an opportunity to play regularly at a massive club - and revel in it.”
In Goldson, Hughton unearthed a natural, vocal and combative defensive general at only 22.
Although unable to shift the Lewis Dunk-Shane Duffy partnership at the top level, Hughton knew Goldson was built for bigger things than a back-up job - and in a hurry to make it there.
Hughton explained: “Connor arrived at Brighton a mature centre-half, very confident in his own ability, a good talker.
“I knew the moment he left for Rangers that, mentally, he could cope with the pressure part.
“There were a couple of inquiries but, once Rangers came knocking, he was desperate to go. It would’ve been a pretty harsh decision to stop him.
“If I’m looking at what Rangers have done for him, he’s very much developed as a player.
“Leon also didn’t play most weeks but added great value to the squad. While he wants to play, that’s more important to him than any individual accolade.
“I’m delighted for them. When I look at the strength of English clubs, Spanish and German leagues, Rangers getting to this final is a massive achievement.
“It’s a tough game but, a lot of the time, this game of ours is about momentum.”
