Manager hopeful forward can play his part
GIOVANNI van Bronckhorst plans to make a late call on whether or not to unleash Ryan Kent on Royal Union SaintGilloise as the Ibrox club bids to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Rangers trail the Belgians 2-0 going into the second leg of their third qualifying-round tie, but their hopes of a turnaround could be boosted by the return of their talismanic forward.
Winger Kent has a chance of being involved after missing the last two games with a knock picked up in the opening league match away to Livingston.
“Ryan did some parts of the training today so we have to assess him tomorrow to see if he’s fit enough to start or even get minutes,” Van Bronckhorst said. “It’s very positive for me that he was on the pitch today.
“He’s a player who if he’s fit to play, I will have a lot of thinking in my mind. He’s a player who can be the difference tomorrow. It will all depend how his fitness is but he’s in the squad, which is a sign that if he’s fit we want to use him.”
Rangers – who will face PSV Eindhoven or Monaco in the play-off round if they get through – have never previously overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in a European tie.
However, the Ibrox club are heartened by memories of last year’s run to the Europa League final when they recovered from first-leg defeats away to Braga and RB Leipzig.
“Most of our ties last year, the second leg was at home and we had to make up defeats in the knockout stages,” he said.
“It’s something we are familiar with. Of course, you don’t want it. But tomorrow is another chance for us to be the team we can be. I know the players will be there together with the fans and we will give everything to make sure we go through.
“It’s very important because we want to stay in the Champions League for the next round and be able to qualify for the group stage.”