Rangers travel to Luxembourg on return to European competition

● St Johnstone face Lithuanians ● Dons go to Bosnia or Kazakhstan

Rangers will enter uncharted territory on their return to European football after being paired with Progres Niederkorn of Luxembourg in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

The Ibrox club, back in continental competition for the first time since 2011, have never played in the Grand Duchy before.

Pedro Caixinha’s men will be at home in the first leg next week, on 29 June, before travelling to face their unheralded opponents in Luxembourg on 6 July. It promises to be a benign re-introduction to the European stage for Rangers. Progres finished fourth in their domestic league last season and have never won a tie in their six previous European campaigns. Should Rangers progress, they will face either AEL Limassol of Cyprus or St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the second qualifying round.

St Johnstone will also start their campaign in the first qualifying round where they have been drawn against FK Trakai of Lithuania with next week’s first leg scheduled to take place at Mcdiarmid Park. If Tommy Wright’s men get through, they will meet either Swedish side IFK Norrkoping or FC Prishtina of Kosovo in the second qualifying round.

Aberdeen enter the competition at the second qualifying round stage where they will play the winners of the first qualifying-round tie between Ordabasy Shymkent of Kazakhstan and Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia.

All three Scottish entrants face an ultimately daunting task if they reach the group stage but both Rangers and Saints will be content with the first assignments placed in front of them.

As Caixinha continues to reshape his squad, with Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos yesterday confirmed as the club’s sixth new signing of the summer, he will be optimistic they can avoid any embarrassment against Progres Niederkorn.

In losing all six of their previous European ties, the Luxembourg outfit have scored only one goal – way back in the 1981-82 season when they lost 5-1 on aggregate to Glentoran in the first round of the European Cup.

Their most recent appearance came two years ago when they lost 3-0 on aggregate to Shamrock Rovers in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

Progres are managed by Paolo Amodio who returned to the club midway through last season for a second spell in charge. A former striker with both Progres and the Luxembourg national team, Amodio was a member of the Jeunesse Esch side crushed 11-0 on aggregate by Celtic in the first round of the Uefa Cup in 2000.

Former Hearts and Kilmarnock defender Ismael Bouzid, who had a trial spell at Rangers four years years ago, played for Progres last season but left the club this summer. Their most notable players are Luxembourg international midfielders Sebastian Thill and Mario Mutsch, the latter having just joined them after spells in French and Swiss football.

If they go through, Rangers are likely to face a stiffer test in the second qualifying round against AEL Limassol who are strong favourites to account for Gibraltan minnowsandeuropeandebutants St Joseph’s.

The Cypriot club’s coach, Bruno Baltazar, will be familiar to his Portuguese compatriot Caixinha. AEL reached the group stage of the Europa League as recently as the 201213 season. On their most recent appearance in Europe, they lost 5-1 to Spurs in the play-off round of the 2014-15 Europa League.

St Johnstone, competing in the tournament for the fifth time in the last six years, will face one familiar foe in the FK Trakai line-up in the shape of former Hearts midfielder Deividas Cesnauskis.

Now 35, he is captain of a club only formed in 2005 and who have risen quickly through the tiers of Lithuanian league football.

Aberdeen will hope to avoid another gruelling trip to Kazakhstan, having lost to Kairat Almaty in the third qualifying round two years ago. Falkirk winger Alex Harris is determined to repay manager Peter Houston’s faith after signing a two-year contract following his release from Hibs.

The 22-year-old was freed earlier this summer after making only eight appearances during the Leith club’s Championship-winning campaign.

The move reunites Harris with Falkirk assistant manager James Mcdonaugh, a former Hibs youth coach.

Harris made his debut for Hibs in October 2012 and is best remembered for inspiring them to a 4-3 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Falkirk that season after the team had trailed 3-0.

The attacking midfielder, who has also spent loan spells at Dundee and Queen of the South, is now hoping to kick-start his career under Houston. He said: “The manager here has told me he believes in me and has confidence in me, and has shown that by bringing me in – which is great.

“I am now here and keen to prove that he was right to sign me and repay that faith he’s shown in me.

“It’s all about playing. Last season was frustrating with injuries but with the boys at Hibs winning and playing well it was hard to get in the team.

“It’s good to get the move done and dusted and I am really looking forward to getting started.”

“I’ve been keeping fit throughout the summer so now it is all about working hard and making a good start to pre-season.”

Bairnsmanagerpeterhouston, who has already signed goalkeeper David Mitchell from Dundee, said: “I am really pleased to secure the services of Alex for the next two years.

“He is a player who has massive potential and I know will be keen to hit the ground running come preseason.”