Rangers FC have travelled to Macedonia in order to take on FC Shkupi in the second leg of the Europa League qualifier but the Gers manager might have a slight frown before Tuesday’s clash.
According to reports in Scotland, the Light Blues have travelled to mainland Europe without midfielder Scott Arfield who is reportedly injured.
Arfield limped out of the first leg at Ibrox and the report suggests that 29-year-old midfielder has not been able to recover in time before the second leg tie.
Scott Arfield arrived at Rangers earlier on during the summer from Burnley on a four-year deal and the midfielder is one of the star signings for Steven Gerrard.
📝 DEAL DONE: Steven Gerrard has made his first signing as Rangers manager. Scott Arfield has joined on a four-year deal from Burnley. (Source: @RangersFC) pic.twitter.com/eHRAA4zjTW
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 14, 2018
The 29-year-old will a doubt be one of the key players for Steven Gerrard for the upcoming season and his absence on Tuesday might give the manager a bit of a selection headache but here are two main reasons why Rangers should not worry too much.
Firstly and most importantly, the Gers take a 2-0 lead to Macedonia which should be more than enough to calm the nerves on Tuesday. While Gerrard knows that FC Shkupi do not pose much of threat but there is always a possibility of a catastrophe especially with a rookie referee in charge of the game.
But the fact that Rangers are 2-0 up mean that Scott Arfield should not be too badly missed in the second leg.
Secondly, Steven Gerrard signed Ovie Ejaria from Liverpool on a season-long loan and so far the midfielder has impressed the manager so we feel that the 20-year-old should be able to fill the boots of Scott Arfield during the Europa League clash vs FC Shkupi.
After the Europa League clash on Tuesday, Rangers dive straight into the Scottish Premiership when they face Aberdeen in the first week of August. So the encounter against Shkupi is the final competitive game where Gerrard can chop and change his players in order to find his best eleven.
Read: Fans are not too happy with one thing about the Rangers vs Shkupi game on Tuesday.
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