Rangers FC have jet-setted for Macedonia in order to take on FC Shkupi in the second leg of the Europa League qualifiers and it seems that the Gers are without their full strength squad.
The Light Blues will take on Shkupi at the Philips II Stadium in Macedonia on Tuesday evening as they carry a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.
Steven Gerrard will be hoping that his team can pick an easy win against the Macedonian side but as the Gers left for mainland Europe we could not fail to notice that a couple of first-team players were missing.
The first big absentee was Graham Dorrans who as the manager had mentioned is sidelined with an injury and it could be close to another month before the Ibrox fans can see him in action once again.
Ever since Dorrans’ move to Rangers in 2017 the midfielder has made the medical room his second home so a fresh injury does not come as a big surprise. While his presence will not be missed on Tuesday but his lengthy absence could cut short Gerrard’s options in midfield once the new Scottish season begins next month.
Midfielder Jordan Rossiter is another player who hasn’t travelled with the Rangers squad to Macedonia as he like Graham Dorrans is sidelined for a month.
Rossiter made only five appearances in the whole of last season but he was without a doubt one of the better performers for the club during pre-season – until he injured his calf.
The next and perhaps the most important absentee of all is Scott Arfield who picked up a knock last week during the first leg at Ibrox and it seems like he hasn’t been able to shake it off.
Unlike the first two midfielders, Arfield who signed for the club this summer should be crucial to Steven Gerrard’s plans next season so we hope that his injury is not too serious.
Another player who is an absentee is Lee Wallace as he is still in the process of settling his dispute with the Rangers management after a fall-out last season.
Apart from Lee Wallace, all the other players that have not travelled to Macedonia are midfielders and the Rangers boss should not have any trouble in that department given the fact that summer loanee Ovie Ejaria should do the job perfectly.
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