I CAN FILL GAP LEFT BY INJURY TO KATIC
RANGERS new boy Calvin Bassey is adamant he can fill the hole left by Nikola’s Katic’s devastating injury.
Centre-back Katic faces months on the sidelines after suffering severe knee damage in pre-season training.
But Bassey, a summer capture from Leicester City, insists Steven Gerrard won’t need to worry about defensive shortages because he will
happily cover for the Croat. Bassey, 20, was developed mainly as a left-back but he said: “I don’t mind playing centre-back.
“I prefer left-back but I am willing to do a job anywhere. Wherever the gaffer decides to put me, I will just give 100 per cent.
“It is all up to the gaffer. If I do play centre-half I will be happy and give my all.
“I hope Niko gets well as soon as possible and wish him all the best.”
Bassey’s old coach also feels he could do a job in the heart of the backline.
Leicester Under-23 boss Steve Beaglehole is confident about the youngster’s adaptability and said: “I’ve no doubt he could step in and handle it, no problem at all.
“He is versatile and can play left-back like a wing back. He is very exciting when he does push on and, even by Premier League standards, he is very quick. Blisteringly quick and strong.
“He can play centreback, ideally in a back three. I was very sorry to see him leave and I know Rangers have a very talented player who is only going to get better.
“He was an outstanding player for me.
“He was training with the first team at Leicester and I think he was very close to getting an opportunity so I am convinced he’ll go on and play at the highest level.
“He is a strong character, he is not timid and will relish playing for Rangers.
“He doesn’t get fazed. He has got a good, strong mental character.
“I have been very lucky, I’ve been in the game a long time with these players at this age group so I am in a reasonable position to comment and it wouldn’t faze him at all.
“He wouldn’t think about it, he would go out there and get on with it.
“When Sir Alex Ferguson was at Man United, he would say his players have to be a special type of player. But they also have to have a special type of mentality.
“They are expected to play well, they are expected to go to the 97th minute and that sort of thing.
“That is what you need to be a Rangers player or Celtic player and I think he can handle it.”
Meanwhile, Rangers are set for a Europa League showdown with Bayer Leverkusen in the German side’s own stadium.
It had been suggested the last-16 second leg fixture would have to be played at a neutral venue.
But UEFA are now happy with the “air bridges” set up across Europe and there is no need for teams to sacrifice their home advantage in return legs.
A draw will take place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland today for the latter stages of the tournament, which will be played in Germany.
Rangers trail Bayer 3-1 after the Ibrox clash in March, the last match played in Scotland before the coronavirus lockdown.