KEEP STRIKERS SHACKLED UNDER LOCK AND KAI

MICHAEL GANNON RUNS THE RULE OVER LEVERKUSEN IN THE BAY ARENA

RANGERS will need to keep a close eye on the Bayer Leverkusen attack on Thursday – but they won’t be the only ones watching.

The Bundesliga big guns have one of the hottest properties in Europe in their ranks in Kai Havertz and he is the man Gers will need to keep quiet if they are to have any hope of the Europa League quarter-finals.

The 20-year-old smashed a German record at the weekend with his goal in the 4-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt as he became the youngest player to hit 30 career Bundesliga goals. Havertz’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed either – with a host of clubs sniffing around with a view to making a move.

Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United are all in the frame and won’t be put off by Leverkusen’s huge £115million price tag.

But Havertz will still be a big part of the Bayer team this week and Rangers will need to keep him at bay. He can play anywhere from middle to front, as a driving No.10 or up top as a striker.

Havertz can also peel wide and run the channels, a talented poacher as well as a provider.

The youngster has long been tipped as a future German superstar and admits he has struggled to deal with the expectation.

But his recent form suggests he has taken off the shackles and at the weekend he was bang in form.

Havertz said: “I feel like I’ve freed myself a bit. Time has made me stronger and brought me to a higher level.

“I was lacking consistency in the first half of the season. There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders.

“When you’re a young player, you go through such phases. After a few relatively bad games, your own fans make a fool of you. That is not easy.”

No one is taking the mickey out of him now as he’s a serious threat – along with £19m ace Paulinho.

The teenage Brazilian striker has had to bid his time at Bayer but was handed his first start at the weekend and responded by blasting a double after teeing up Havertz’s goal.

Leverkusen have injury problems – with twins Lars and Sven Bender out, along with Nadiem Amiri.

But they will provide Rangers with their toughest Europa test to date with their two dangermen fit and in form going into the big Glasgow crunch clash.

Your own fans make a fool of you. That is not easy

KAI HAVERTZ ON HIS LEVERKUSEN SLUMP