2021 was all about returning the Scottish Premiership to the Ibrox trophy room.

That is rightly what the year will always connote to Rangers supporters.

Beneath the overriding theme, however, plenty of other stories ran their course. A managerial change, the Champions League near-miss, more Europa League qualification and just one league defeat. With some standout contributions along the way.

As one year ends and another draws near, our writers select their top three players from 2021.

Joshua Barrie

Ryan Kent’s poor start to this season omits him from this podium, but his form towards the end of 2020/21 was the finest of his Ibrox career to date. Honourable mentions also go to Connor Goldson, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor. Each of whom didn’t maintain the consistency of the chosen trio in the early parts of this campaign.

3. Glen Kamara

Kamara was dependable throughout the whole Invincible campaign and has quickly found himself to be the midfield cornerstone of Van Bronckhorst’s new era. In his own way, the Finnish midfielder is far more of a dominant presence in the centre than before and one of the club's most valuable assets. 

Playing at the base of midfield, his press-resistant attributes give Rangers the option to play into dangerous areas of the pitch. A recent win over Dundee United emphasised the team's dependency on him in this phase of the game. 

He has also contributed higher up the pitch at points, an assist against Lyon comes to mind.

By maximising what he can offer in midfield, he is facilitating the forward runners ahead of him. A new contract and impressive appearance at the EUROS outlines his best professional year to date.

2. James Tavernier

The second half of Tavernier's 2020/21 campaign paled comparatively to the opening months. However, his continuous moment-making so far this season earns him a spot in second. The winner at St Johnstone, the turnaround at Fir Park, a late penalty to recently beat Dundee United. Provoked by the challenge of Nathan Patterson, Tavernier has only improved.

He still looks vulnerable to the occasional switch of play but has improved defensively with a move away from the Gerrard and Beale 4-3-3. A sighting of him playing infield against St Mirren on Boxing Day suggests a further positional evolution may be in the works. 

As a captain he has grown. As always he does his leading on the pitch.

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1. Joe Aribo

Most if not all Rangers supporters will have Aribo top of their list this New Year. His 2020/21 campaign only really got going in the second period following an injury lay-off – ever since the Nigerian has taken that vital next step in his development. Like Kamara, dominating opponents to the degree his talent justifies.

Aribo had been the player of the season prior to Van Bronckhorst arriving at the club but has improved ever since. Benefitting from increasing license to attack and greater offensive responsibility.

Adding a directness seen against Hearts in particular only increases the multitude of threats opponents have to combat. 

Given his consistent output, regular Man of the Match showings and promise of more Aribo comfortably earns the top spot.

Derek Clark

3. Calvin Bassey

Perhaps a slightly surprising choice but it’s without doubt merited. The former Leicester City youth has shone for Rangers in the first half of the season. Last term, he was used sparingly but still contributed, mainly from left-back.

At the start of the current campaign, he deputised for Borna Barisic on a number of occasions and in the main impressed. His performance against Dunfermline at Ibrox in the League Cup springs to mind when he was rightfully named Man of the Match. It’s his transition into a centre back that has really brought his game onto another level entirely. Not many could’ve envisioned he would look so comfortable beside Connor Goldson after watching his display against Sparta Prague when he and Leon Balogun were ripped to shreds time after time. But since the arrival of the new management team, he’s been an ever-present at the heart of the Rangers backline and looks to be improving game by game. 

The biggest compliment you could possibly pay the 21-year-old is that Leon Balogun is not guaranteed to walk straight back into the team when he returns from injury. The future is certainly bright for Bassey and you feel he has so much potential to blossom into a top-quality defender whether that be at left-back or centre-back.

2. James Tavernier

The image of the skipper lifting the Premiership trophy aloft back in May will live long in the memories of each and every Rangers supporter. Tavernier’s journey at Ibrox could be made into a Hollywood blockbuster, he’s seen it all but his performances, in the main, have remained true and often contained moments that take your breath away. 

He led by example last term as the club rampaged towards the title and despite a few ropey displays at the start of this campaign, he has continued to show just why he’s the captain. His volley against Motherwell at Fir Park that sparked a comeback, his audacious lob against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, crucial penalties against the likes of Dundee United and Aberdeen, not to mention 13 assists in all competitions.

Despite calls for Nathan Patterson to take over the right-back berth, Tavernier has dug deep and shown he is still the man to wear the armband and lead the club forward.

1. Joe Aribo

It’s been quite a year for the Rangers Super Eagle. He has improved year on year since arriving from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2019 and is, arguably, the Light Blues' most important player.

Like many others, he was sensational during the club’s Invincible campaign last term and is exceeding those performance levels.

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The 2021/22 season didn’t start as well as any Rangers supporter would’ve hoped but Aribo’s displays remained relatively consistent and since the arrival of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Nigerian’s game seems to have improved even more so.

Rangers will make a lot of money on the 25-year-old when he does eventually leave Ibrox but it’s vital they keep hold of their star man in January as he is quite simply indispensable.