GIO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF IBROX SICK LIST

NEW Rangers boss Michael Beale reckons Gio van Bronckhorst was a victim of a horrendous injury list.

The Dutchman was deprived of top team stars including Connor Goldson, Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi, John Souttar, Ben Davies and Filip Helander before the axe fell on him.

And Beale voiced his sympathy for van Bronckhorst (inset) who was appointed after Steven Gerrard and Beale left for Aston Villa just over a year ago and who led the club to the Europa League final and Scottish Cup success.

He said: “I think the injuries have played a massive part and after such a high at the end of the season, winning the Scottish Cup, I think it maybe had an impact on one or two.

“They’ve had a big impact in terms of consistency on the pitch. I think that led to a situation where the results have maybe gone the wrong way.

“Gio is an excellent professional, he comes across so well and he’s a man of high class. There was a tinge of sadness then obviously the opportunity came for myself to come back and that was a huge opportunity for me.

“The injuries need to clean up but we can’t use it as an excuse. That’s really important that we don’t use it as an excuse moving forward.”