Blow for Young Boys ahead of visit to Ibrox
Rangers have received a massive boost for their final-day Europa League showdown with Young Boys.
The Bern club’s captain, Fabian Lustenberger, has been ruled out of the game after undergoing thigh surgery.
Steven Gerrard’s side need only a draw to qualify for the knock-out stages, but the Swiss need all three points at Ibrox in the last game of the group, having lost 2-1 at home to Porto on Thursday night.
And their hopes took a further knock after it was revealed Switzerland international stopper and skipper, Lustenberger, had to go under the knife after suffering a thigh injury during their home defeat to the Portuguese giants.
A Young Boys statement said: “Fabian Lustenberger had to go off after suffering a bruise on his thigh.
“After the game, a compartment syndrome was found, which is why the injury had to be treated with surgery.
“He will not be available for the next few matches.”
It’s the latest blow for Young Boys ahead of their trip to Glasgow as they have a further five players on the treatment table.
Mohamed Camara, Gianluca Gaudino, Sandro Lauper, Vincent Sierro and Miralem Sulejmani are already sidelined, and the Swiss league leaders could travel to Glasgow with a severely depleted squad.
Of course, what size of crowd awaits them inside Ibrox remains in doubt.
Rangers are facing a potential closure of the stadium to fans after reports of sectarian singing during the Europa League tie against Feyenoord in Rotterdam in midweek.
The Light Blues have already been hammered by UEFA during this season’s competition.
A section of the Broomloan Stand was closed for the Europe League ties at home to Legia Warsaw and Feyenoord as punishment for fans’ singing during the away games against St Joseph’s in Malta and Legia in Poland.
The club also refused to take tickets for the away tie against Young Boys.
UEFA will review a report from their match delegate at the De Kuip tie in the coming days, and could take action thereafter.