Steven Davis on his debt to Rangers manager Steven Gerrard as he is crowned SFWA Footballer of the Year at 36

Still, the Liverpool and England great was shocked when his deep-lying midfielder suddenly appeared in the Celtic penalty area at that stage in the Scottish Cup last 16 match.

“The gaffer is still wondering what I was doing in the box at that particular time with the role that I play these days,” said Davis with a grin on Friday.

The 36-year-old is not exactly renowned as a predator. It is unusual to see him bundling a tap in over the line from a couple of yards out never mind netting such an eye-catching strike. Indeed, it was only his second of the season.

That Northern Ireland internationalist being named the 2021 Scottish Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is no great surprise to his manager or any other observer of the game in this country in the past 10 months.

He faced stiff competition from his team mates Connor Goldson, Allan McGregor and James Tavernier – for the first time in the 57 year history of the award all of the contenders on the shortlist were from the same club – and it was a close-run thing.

But the personal accolade the 2010 PFA Scotland Player of the Year has received is richly deserved given the influence he has exerted in matches both domestically and in Europe.

Typically, the unassuming Davis feels that any member of the aforementioned trio, who have been every bit as pivotal to the historic Premiership win and extended Europa League run that Rangers have enjoyed in the past 10 months as he has been, would have been equally deserving recipients. 

“We have so many guys who could have won,” he said. “The problem is that it is so difficult to pick one because of the season we have had. There are a number of players including ones who have not even been nominated.

“It's been such a strong season as a group and as individuals. I wouldn't like to be making that decision. I think Greegsy (McGregor) has been outstanding and I have a great relationship with him. I'm just thankful I've been chosen.

"You set out to have as strong as season as possible and bring your attributes to the team. I am absolutely delighted to be recognised for your efforts over the course of a long, hard season and especially given the season we've had, the performances we've put in and the consistency that we've shown. It's very special.”

Davis, who was initially brought back to Rangers on a six month loan deal from Southampton in the January of 2019, feels he owes Gerrard a great deal of the credit for his success. His one-time adversary has made the most of his strengths in the 4-3-3 formation that he favours. He has flourished despite his advancing years.  

"He (Gerrard) deserves huge praise from me personally,” he said. “When you are setting up a team you recognise the attributes that individuals have and try find a system that works for them.

“The way we play in midfield and the role I am asked to play certainly suits my attributes and gives me the platform to perform to my best level and show what I can do.

“I thoroughly enjoy playing in that role, the way we are set up and the players I have around me allows me to show my best qualities so the manager and his coaching staff have to take huge credit for that and of course just giving me that belief as well. There's nothing more that a player can ask for than the manager's trust. You've got to gain that, but whenever you have that it's a great feeling.”

Davis, who became the most capped player in the history of British football when he made his 126th appearance for his homeland in a World Cup qualifier back in March, believes his longevity is due as much to the advances which have been made in nutrition and sports science as his own dedication and professionalism.

"It probably comes with education and experience,” he said. “The game's always evolving, the level of information you get. My diet and the way I train has changed over the years.

"I would never say my diet was bad, but I understand when to eat carbs, protein. It is thanks to all the information you get around nutrition. I wouldn't say it's been extreme in terms of the changes I've made, but I am certainly eating the right foods at the right times, more so now than I would have in the early days of my career.”

That said, Davis was concerned about what this season held when competitive football returned after a four-and-a-half month shutdown back in August. Had he overdone his personal fitness work? Was he not in good enough shape? He was uncertain what lay ahead.

“After lockdown the worry I had at this stage of my career was it was the first time I had had that length of break,” he said. “You try to do everything you think is right, but you don't know whether it's enough or too much, it's getting that balance.

“Thankfully, I came back for pre-season in a good place and I have carried that on and, touch wood, been lucky with injuries this season. I have been able to play more games than I imagined I would have. I feel good. You certainly know your body as you get older and I am just trying to do the right things to keep myself performing.”

The former Aston Villa and Fulham man helped Northern Ireland to reach the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and he is sad that Ryan Jack, who he believes was Rangers most effective player before he got sidelined by injury in February and would have been in the running for his award, will miss the Euro 2020 finals next month. His fellow midfielder underwent surgery on a calf problem last week.

“Ryan has been excellent and I am absolutely devastated he will miss out on the Euros,” he said. “I know how much it means to him playing for Scotland and how hard he has worked to establish himself in the team. I’m sure he would have been a starter this summer.

“He is one of those players who has improved season upon season. That goes for my time coming back to the club. He is great on and off the pitch and he is one who drives the standards.

“I don't think we would have been able to cope without him in previous seasons though which is testament to the other boys in the team. “

Winning the Premiership and stopping Celtic from completing 10-In-A-Row would have been a sweet enough reward for Davis, who departed Rangers under a cloud after their financial implosion back in 2012, this season. The SFWA award has simply capped a memorable year.

But nothing can top his improbable heroics against Celtic. 

“I tried to break forward and the ball sat up nicely for me,” he said. “So I decided to have a go and thankfully I didn't embarrass myself. It went in the back of the net. To score any Old Firm goal is special and to get one like that will certainly stick in my memory.

“I can't remember too many like that in training never mind my career. I was getting plenty of text messages asking if my back was alright afterwards from my friends."