...while Gerrard wishes striker well

RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard last night extended his best wishes to Leigh Griffiths after the Celtic striker stepped away from football to deal with ‘ongoing issues’. The Ibrox boss, preparing his side to face Rapid Vienna in tonight’s must-win Europa League showdown in the Austrian capital, admitted he had been saddened to learn of Griffiths’ troubles. Parkhead counterpart Brendan Rodgers revealed yesterday the Scotland striker would have a period out of the game to seek professional help for problems that have been present for ‘a number of months’. In response, Gerrard insisted all at Rangers hoped their Old Firm rival would make a speedy recovery. ‘Leigh has got some issues that Brendan mentioned today in his press conference,’ said the former England captain. ‘We wish Leigh well and hope

to see him back on a football pitch pretty soon. That is sad news.’ Meanwhile, Gerrard insists Rangers are ready to deal with the poor state of the pitch inside the Allianz Stadion as they strive to reach the last 32 of the Europa League. The Ibrox outfit last night trained on an alternative pitch within the complex surrounding the ground to prevent further damage to the surface. ‘The pitch actually looks okay, but underfoot it does seem wet,’ admitted Gerrard. ‘So I think it is a sensible decision to stay off it right now because it does look as if it is going to cut up. ‘We’ll see what the next 24 hours brings in terms of the weather but I am expecting a messy pitch. But is the same (surface) for both teams. ‘We might have to adapt during the game. ‘I think the pitch will start okay because we are staying off it. But if it does cut up, we might have to adapt. ‘We will make the players aware of what not to do in certain situations. If it cuts up, it doesn’t make sense to be overplaying. ‘I don’t see it as a big problem. It doesn’t change our focus. We don’t like to use excuses and we will focus on our gameplan and what we have to do to win the match. ‘The pitch won’t change. It is what it is and we have to go out there and give it our best shot.’ Gerrard welcomes Alfredo Morelos back from domestic suspension but will be without wingers Ryan Kent and Daniel Candeias. Liverpool loanee Kent is facing a couple of weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Candeias is banned after his controversial dismissal against Villarreal.