Fringe players to be given opportunity against Lyon
GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST will use Rangers’ Europa League dead rubber with Lyon to give his fringe players a chance to impress tonight.
The champions have made the trip to France without defender Leon Balogun as he continues his recovery from the knock that has kept him out of action since the defeat to Hibernian last month.
The Group A fixture will give Van Bronckhorst a chance to mix and match his starting line-up as he aims for another victory on the eve of the Premiership clash with Hearts this weekend.
That Tynecastle showdown carries greater significance for Rangers in the grand scheme of things and Van Bronckhorst will make the most of the opportunity to give players a run out as the likes of Nathan Patterson, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe bid for a starting jersey.
Van Bronckhorst said: “Regarding the game, we are going to watch closely the physical state of my players and it is also a game where I can change some positions to give the players some minutes who need that. I am more than comfortable to do so and to get a good game [on Thursday] evening.
“For the players who come in it’s always good to have minutes. One of the downsides of being a coach with a big squad and also a squad with good players is that you have to disappoint players in every game.
“That’s something that’s not easy to do but you have to do it. So when you have the chance to give those players a chance to play it’s always good, it’s a nice feeling.
“And for the players as well, because some players didn’t play as much in the last weeks but they gave everything in training and their mentality was really good so I am very pleased to give some players minutes.”