Former Celtic defender Adam Virgo has heaped plaudits on Steven Gerrard for getting the best out of Leon Balogun following the defender’s troubled spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, reports Completesports.com.
Balogun has been one of the key performers for Rangers this season following his arrival last summer, helping the club secure the Scottish Premiership title.
The Nigeria international has also showed his versatility by playing in the right-back position.
“I wouldn’t say Rangers took a punt on Leon Balogun because he’s an international who moved to an English Premier League side but he wasn’t a high profile signing,” Virgo told Daily Record.
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“That’s where Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister deserve huge credit because Rangers have been outstanding defensively and it’s testament to them as a coaching staff as that wasn’t their side of the game as players.
“But when you’ve got players like Alfredo Morelos in your side who can score then the defensive side wins you the league and this season, they’ve won some tight games where they’ve had to really stick in and keep those clean sheets and Leon has been a big part of that.
“Credit to him because he must have taken a big knock being released from Brighton to Wigan in League One and now to have a Scottish Premiership winners’ medal.
“And it’s not like he’s been a bit-part player. He had decent run in the Europa League games where Rangers had a strong run and you can clearly see Steven Gerrard has got the best out of him.
“He’s 32 and helps with the younger players as well so I’m sure Nathan Patterson will be learning from him even though Leon isn’t a natural right back.”
