Rangers News

As Rangers fans lick their wounds following the Old Firm defeat to Celtic, they’ll take little solace in a Europa League draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the days before.

The Gers held Spurs 1-1 at Ibrox before taking Celtic all the way to penalties at Hampden and coming up short amid some dubious refereeing decisions in the final.

Whilst Rangers were back in Glasgow on the receiving end of one of the worst Cup Final decisions in recent memory, Spurs were back on Premier League duties.

And the North London side have responded amid intense pressure on Ange Postecoglou with one ex-Ibrox star being sacked in the aftermath.

Spurs get ex-Rangers star sacked

Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Southampton following the Europa League draw with Rangers and had a big point to prove on the English south coast.

Scoring in the first minute of the match, Spurs went on to thrash Russell Martin’s hapless Saints side 5-0 and restore some pride to Ange’s flailing outfit.

But the thumping scoreline has proven too much for ex-Rangers defender Russell Martin, who has now been sacked as Southampton’s head coach.

Martin, who won promotion as Southampton manager last season, had been in charge at St Mary’s for 18 months with the club describing the move as a ‘difficult decision’.

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U21s boss Simon Rusk will take charge until a permanent replacement is found with Southampton bottom of the Premier League.

A Southampton statement reads:

”We can confirm that we have taken the difficult decision to part ways with our Men’s First Team Manager, Russell Martin.

”Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world.

“However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations. We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.

”We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months. Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the Play-Off Final win in May.”

Russell Martin apologised for Ibrox spell

Former Scotland international Russell Martin, 38, spent a disastrous six months on loan at Rangers in 2018.

Joining the club in the January under Graeme Murty, the then Norwich City defender struggled with the intensity of Scottish football and expectations at Ibrox.

Martin’s spell at Rangers was so bad in fact that whilst Swansea manager the former defender took the opportunity to apologise to Gers fans during the Ibrox club’s pursuit of Morgan Whittaker.

“I’ve had Rangers fans message me on LinkedIn saying let him go,” said Martin in February 2023, as quoted by the Scottish Sun.

”I apologised to them saying ‘sorry I was crap at your club but it’s not my decision’.”

Ange Postecoglou had some choice words for German international Timo Werner come the final whistle in Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League clash with Rangers.

German international Timo Werner, 28, was eviscerated by Ange Postecoglou come full time after being hooked at half-time in the eventual 1-1 draw with Rangers.

The introduction of Dejan Kulusevski eventually changed the game for Spurs, who came from behind after Hamza Igamane fired Rangers in front moments after the restart.

But as the dust settles on the Europa League clash at Ibrox, Ange Postecoglou has taken aim at the RB Leipzig loanee in an astonishing post-match assassination.

Timo Werner receives Ange Postecoglou wrath

“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the levels he can,” said Postecoglou, as quoted by Football London journalist Alisdair Gold.

”When you’ve got 18-year-olds, it’s not acceptable to me. I told him that. He’s a senior international, a German international.

“In the moment we’re in now, I need everyone to be at least going out there and giving the best they can. What he produced wasn’t acceptable.

“When I’m asking the younger players to do massive jobs, I expect more from the senior players like him.”

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Tottenham manager reacts to Rangers result

Ange Postecoglou has also been reacting to the result after Rangers dumped Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.

The Australian manager saw his side narrowly escape a defeat to Rangers, with Cyriel Dessers being thwarted by Fraser Forster with minutes on the clock

Reflecting on the game as a whole, Postecoglou claims that the ferocious Ibrox atmosphere played a big role and claims it’s on everyone else to judge whether a draw was a fair result.

“A tough game as expected,” said Postecoglou. “With the atmosphere, first half was pretty tight no real clear cut chances on either side.

“Obviously when they score after half-time the stadium goes up and it’s going to be a tough one to claw back but I thought we worked our way back into the game well.

“I thought the subs made a difference and we scored a good goal.

“Had a couple of other moments and in the end a great save by Fraser gives us, in the context of where we are in Europe, I think an important point.

”It is the result, what’s fair and unfair I think is for others to judge. I thought it was a fairly tight game for the most part.

“They had their moments and I thought in the second half, especially when the subs came on, we got a better foothold in the game.

“Like I said, in the context of where we are in Europe with the next games in the New Year, which should give us a chance to be in a better place squad-wise, I think it’s an important point.”

Rangers might be a gutted not to have taken all three points as the Ibrox club played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Ibrox.

The Gers put in an energy-sapping performance and took the lead in the match through Hamza Igamane just moments after the half-time restart.

But Spurs changed the game with a three-man substitution half way through the second half, as Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and Lucas Bergvall left a big imprint on the match.

Spurs goalscorer on the night Dejan Kulusevski spoke to TNT Sports right after the match and couldn’t speak highly enough of both the Rangers team and the club’s immense support.

Rangers leave big impression v Spurs

Rangers put in a heroic shift against Tottenham Hotspur to earn a Europa League point which might’ve been more come the final whistle.

Cyriel Dessers had a glorious chance, which in fairness the Nigerian international superbly fashioned for himself, only to see old foe Fraser Forster make a crucial stop.

Come the final whistle, Dejan Kulusevski spoke to TNT Sports host Emma Dodds on the pitch at Ibrox and couldn’t speak highly enough of the Rangers team.

It was a fully committed showing from Rangers with several big performers on the night, the supporters amongst them amidst a ferocious Ibrox atmosphere.

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It wasn’t lost on Dejan Kulusevski come the full-time whistle, who claimed the Rangers team played a ‘perfect game’ and that Ibrox is a ‘beautiful stadium’.

Dejan Kulusevski hails ‘beautiful’ Ibrox

“I think Rangers played very well,” said Kulusevski. “We struggled a bit and in the end 1-1, it is what it is. We didn’t play well enough to win the game.

”Rangers did a perfect game, with the stadium, it’s a beautiful stadium. Fans were helping them a lot.”

The result leaves Rangers 8th in the Europa League table, a position which would guarantee the club safe passage to the last 16 of the tournament.

With two games remaining in the tournament, Rangers will head to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on MD7 before finishing the Europa League group phase against Union Saint Gilloise at Ibrox.

Rangers will have to be at their best when they face Spurs with Philippe Clement hoping to maintain momentum and pull off a shock.

Ange Postecoglou has some injury problems to deal with, however, the Light Blues manager has a squad that is starting to look stronger ahead of what could be a big night at Ibrox.

With an even bigger game on Sunday against Celtic, this is who Clement has picked for Rangers to face Spurs.

Rangers team news vs Spurs confirmed

The one area of the park where the Gers boss likes to keep rotation to a minimum is in defence.

Leon Balogun has strolled through domestic games recently, but Robin Propper has saved his best performances for the Europa League.

Keeping Balogun fresh for the Premier Sports Cup final makes sense.

James Tavernier has made a timely return to form with Dujon Sterling pushing the Rangers captain for a place in the starting XI, any dip in form and Clement has an easy decision to make.

An easier decision seemed to be to go with the midfield that performed so well against Nice in the last Europa League league phase fixture, however, Clement has sprung a surprise.

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Nedim Bajrami gets a start as the main attacking midfielder with Mohamed Diomande alongside Nicolas Raskin.

Who starts up front for Rangers against Spurs?

Not having Ianis Hagi and Danilo available is a blow, but Rangers have coped without them so far.

With two goals and an assist against Nice, Hamza Igamane is the only option to lead the line.

His hold up play, and composure could be crucial in getting Rangers up the park where Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami have the ability to make a difference.

On the left, Ridvan Yilmaz – where he has played off the bench recently – will provide pace and energy and, hopefully, play his part on the counterattack.

The forward line will have to be more clinical than it has been at any point this season if Rangers are to get a result against the team Chris Sutton branded “the best in the Premier League”.

Line-up: Butland, Tavernier, Jefte, Propper, Balogun, Raskin, Diomande, Bajrami, Cerny, Ridvan, Igamane

As Rangers prepare to face Premier League Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, the build up has been dominated by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.

Not only is the Australian coach under intense pressure to turn things around at trigger-happy Spurs, but the ex-Celtic manager is returning to Glasgow 18 months on from leaving Parkhead for North London.

Given it’s Rangers that Ange Postecoglou will come up against in Scotland, the media have had a particular interest in stoking an Old Firm rivalry which has dominated the pre-match headlines.

But whilst the newspapers bait the Rangers support and the cantankerous old Spurs boss groans his way through the pre-match pre-amble, Philippe Clement will be delighted to have all the focus on the Tottenham manager and not his young Rangers squad.

It comes with the Ibrox side potentially set to land what could prove a substantial if not fatal blow in the uncertain Tottenham tenure of their under fire coach.

‘Spurs will need to overcome the odds to beat Rangers’

Ange Postecoglou reckons his Tottenham Hotspur side will have to ‘overcome the odds’ to defeat Rangers in the Europa League.

It comes with Spurs having a number of high-profile injury problems heading into the match at Ibrox, with Dutch defender Micky van de Ven the latest to be ruled out.

Remarkably, the Australian managed to make the comments with a straight face despite the fact Spurs’ starting XI will likely have cost £300m more than Rangers’ team.

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“We’re in a bit of a tough spot,” Postecoglou told SpursTV pre-match.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to sort of overcome the odds and hopefully create something special.”

We’ve got a feeling the big man is playing mind games with such extraordinary claims, which have no basis in reality whatsoever.

It didn’t end there either.

Ange Postecoglou baits Rangers title win

In the pre-match press conference, Postecoglou then baited Rangers’ 55th title triumph, the Australian suggesting it was ‘meaningless’ due to a lack of fans.

Whilst we can safely say Postecoglou is talking nonsense – Rangers did win 55 and stop 10IAR, no matter how much it hurts Celtic fans – the reality is the Ibrox side blew it big time after the Australian’s arrival in Glasgow.

From a Rangers point of view, fans reflect on Postecoglou’s time as Celtic more as a dramatic failure on the Ibrox side’s part.

The suggestion that Gers fans have bad blood with the Australian makes a good headline, but it is massively overstated.

It’s that systemic failure in the wake of the club’s 55th title which has hung over Rangers in recent seasons and forced a complete reshuffle in the club’s leadership.

In the pantheon of great Celtic rivals, Postecoglou is small fry, which makes the grumpy Australian’s comments even more bizarre.

“I don’t know if it brings out more of me, I’m like anyone else,” said Postecoglou when asked about this overhyped reaction from Rangers fans.

“I like a bit of love every now and then — but I do enjoy that!

“What I always kind of reflect on, and we’ve all lived it, is that once you experience football in empty stadiums, you realise how meaningless it is.

“I fell through that whole period. It was meaningless. As much as you go, you could be hostile tomorrow, but that’s what we love about the game.

“That’s what brings it to life, ultimately. It’s a game that evokes passions and emotions. Sometimes that’s not always positive.

“Like every human being, you’d love it to be positive, but it’s not going to happen.

”But you definitely want that, as opposed to just playing a game somewhere sterile where you don’t have that.”

Rangers won’t give Ange Postecoglou a second thought

Maybe the Australian would have a point, well, only if it weren’t the case that the Tottenham team is one of the most expensively assembled in world football.

This is not a level playing field and a failure for Tottenham to beat Rangers only shines negatively on Postecoglou.

In 10 simulations, with Spurs’ finances they should overcome the Gers nine times.

Whilst Spurs boast one of the biggest budgets in football, Rangers’ young team has been rebuilt in the summer window on a shoestring.

And yet, Rangers fans are approaching the game at Ibrox stadium with a quiet confidence as the club’s Europa League campaign reaches a crucial juncture.

With all the focus on Big Ange in the build up, Philippe Clement echoed that sentiment and urged his young charges to seize the day to ensure a memorable night that will last a lifetime.

Carpe diem indeed.

The Rangers manager is not buying into talk of a Spurs in crisis and has been clear throughout that the Premier League giants operate in a financial domain we can only dream of.

But whilst Ange Postecoglou covers his own back and tries to stoke the flames of an old rivalry, Clement is focusing on the football and insists his team can overcome the odds.

Let’s be clear here.

Should Rangers do so, then the first thought will not be about the Ange Postecoglou circus that has rolled into town or a misguided sense of redemption. Although in the build-up you wouldn’t believe it.

It’ll be praise alone for a young Rangers side who will have taken another step closer to where they need to be, winning a deeper place in the hearts of supporters in the process.

Taking a Premier League scalp and providing a memorable Europa League night is much more important to Rangers fans than getting one over Ange Postecoglou will ever be.

Philippe Clement reckons Rangers operate on a different level entirely to Europa League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The Belgian manager claims that financially Rangers just cannot compete with their Premier League rivals, who come to Glasgow firm favourites ahead of a tantalising Europa League clash.

Whilst Clement reckons there are ways Rangers can bridge that financial gap on the pitch, over the piece Tottenham as a football club have a multitude of advantages over their Scottish rivals.

But just how much have Tottenham Hotspur invested into their squad compared to Rangers?

Here, we look at both probable XIs for Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur and how much each side has spent building their respective teams.

Value of Rangers’ expected XI v Tottenham Hotspur

We’ve done a wider piece on Rangers’ predicted XI v Tottenham Hotspur with Philippe Clement admitting he’ll have Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup v Celtic in mind when it comes to his selections.

Nonetheless, Rangers are expected to select a strong squad against Tottenham Hotspur and we suspect the likes of Robin Propper and Mohamed Diomande will come into the side.

With Ianis Hagi, Danilo and Rabbi Matondo all unavailable for selection, here’s our predicted Rangers line up and how much the Ibrox club reportedly spent assembling it.

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* All figures found except from Tavernier from Rangers transfer history 2016 onwards

Rangers predicted XI v Spurs (Europa League)

GK – Jack Butland (free)

DR – James Tavernier (£220k)

DC – Robin Propper (£1.5m)

DC – John Souttar (free)

DL – Jefte (£680k)

CDM – Connor Barron (awaiting tribunal)

CDM – Nicolas Raskin (£1.75m)

CAM – Mohamed Diomande (£4.3m)

RW – Vaclav Cerny (loan)

LW – Nedim Bajrami (£3.4m)

ST – Hamza Igamane (£1.7m)

TOTAL COST = £13.55m

Value of Tottenham Hotspur’s expected XI v Rangers

There’s been much made about Tottenham Hotspur’s injury problems heading into the Europa League clash with Rangers.

With as many as eight players doubts for the Rangers game, there are big issues at centre-back with Micky van de Ven being ruled out by Postecoglou ahead of the game.

Whilst there will be changes in the Spurs lineup against Rangers, the reality of the financial gap between the sides is laid bare with Tottenham’s expected XI.

It’s fair to say talk of Spurs’ injury problems heading into the game with Rangers have been a touch overstated.

Spurs predicted XI v Rangers (Europa League)

GK – Fraser Forster (free)

DR – Pedro Porro (£44m)

DC – Radu Dragusin (£26.7m)

DC – Archie Gray (£30m)

DL – Destiny Udogie (£15m)

CDM – Yves Bissouma (£25m)

CDM – Rodrigo Bentancur (£21.5m)

CAM – James Maddison (£40m)

RW – Brennan Johnson (£47.5m)

LW – Timo Werner (loan)

ST – Dominic Solanke (£65m)

TOTAL COST = £314.7m

As Rangers take on Tottenham Hotspur in a Europa League clash at Ibrox, a number of footballing superstars have made the trip north.

Korean forward Son Heung-Min, 32, is perhaps the biggest name in the Spurs squad and the Tottenham captain will lead his team out at Ibrox.

There is then a plethora of global footballing superstars in the club’s ranks who – despite Spurs’ injury problems – will go into the clash against Rangers overwhelming favourites.

James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson are just some names from Spurs’ expensively assembled squad who’re operating in a different stratosphere to Rangers.

But whilst much of the attentions will be focused on the Spurs players who are making the trip north, Rangers have a burgeoning superstar in their ranks who will hope to make his name on the Europa League stage.

All eyes on Hamza Igamane

When Rangers signed Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane, few had heard about the FAR Rabat hitman.

The 22-year-old cost the Gers £1.7m when he joined from the Moroccan leagues and for the first few months, Philippe Clement faced a near weekly inquest into the striker’s situation.

But after overcoming an early injury at Rangers, and settling into life in Scotland after moving from Morocco, Igamane has begun to announce himself at Rangers.

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A brief cameo against Dundee United earlier in the season whet the appetites of Rangers supporters, and Philippe Clement deserves credit for managing expectations up until this point.

But following a double against OGC Nice in the last Europa League clash, and superb goals against Kilmarnock and Ross County, the excitement is building.

If Hamza Igamane can down Premier League opposition in the shape of Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, the dam might well burst.

Rangers striker hopes to hog Europa League stage

There’s been a lot made about Rangers’ ambitions to build up the club’s flailing player trading model, a system which has had only sporadic success in recent seasons.

Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey are anomalies rather than evidence of a functional model and the club have changed tact this summer.

Hamza Igamane is a big part of that new vision of a youthful, winning Rangers, with the club aiming to earn a reputation as a springboard which develops the top young players for the big leagues.

Whilst there are a handful in the Rangers squad who meet this criteria, the major difference with young Morocco hopeful Igamane is how highly rated the talented young striker is in the game.

Hamza Igamane was named by CIES Football Observatory as one of global football’s best performing U23 strikers, alongside the likes of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Brighton’s Joao Pedro.

Everyone knows that lethal hitmen command the highest transfer fees in football and whilst Hamza Igamane is only at the start of his journey at Rangers, his first steps have been in the right direction.

But should the young Moroccan leave a big impression against Tottenham Hotspur at Ibrox, we suspect interest in our moustached Moroccan maverick to go to the next level.

Kris Boyd is never shy when it comes to speaking his mind and the former Rangers striker has been giving his Europa League verdict on Tottenham Hotspur.

The ex-Rangers hitman reckons Ange Postecoglou is a man under mounting pressure as Spurs come to Ibrox to face the Gers.

But Kris Boyd is backing the former Celtic manager to bounce back amid a run of terrible injuries at Spurs that Postecoglou describes as the worst of his career.

Former Ibrox striker Boyd also reckons that whilst it’s a huge Europa League clash for both clubs, given the context of Tottenham’s recent form, it’s a much bigger tie for Ange Postecoglou’s ‘struggling’ Spurs.

’Bigger game for Tottenham than Rangers’

”I know Tottenham are struggling right now domestically,” Boyd told Sky Sports.

“But you’ve seen some of the performances they can put on, they can reach.

”And Ange Postecoglou, coming back to Glasgow, will want to put on a show for his connection to Celtic.

”He’ll obviously want to beat Rangers because of the form that they’ve been in right now at Tottenham.

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”You get the feeling that pressure is starting to mount on him. It’ll be interesting to see what he does. He has chopped and changed the team a little bit in Europe.

”But they’ve got a huge game at the weekend that they need to get three points from when you take into (consideration) their recent run they’ve had domestically.

”I think it’s a bigger game for Tottenham than what it is for Rangers.

“Yes, Rangers are at home (but) I don’t think Rangers are expected to go and win the game.

”Tottenham, because of all the negativity that’s been flying around and the speculation surrounding Ange Postecoglou’s future.

”I think it would be absolutely ridiculous if he’s to lose his job because you can see the players he’s had in terms of the injuries he’s had.

”He deserves time and he’s shown that he is a good manager and he will get it right.”

‘Rangers could be in for long Europa League night’

Kris Boyd has also been assessing Rangers’ chances ahead of the Europa League visit of Spurs and reckons the Ibrox side could be in for a long night.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement bit back at prophecies of Spurs’ demise by pointing to the North London outfit’s 4-0 hammering of Manchester City in the Premier League a few weeks ago.

For Boyd too, this is a stark reminder of the quality in the Tottenham ranks and the ex-Rangers star reckons his old side will need to be at the top of their game to take all three points.

Kris Boyd has also pointed to the Ibrox crowd factor, with the Rangers support aiming to make the game as hostile as possible for the Spurs team.

”For tomorrow night you kind of look a lot at the English media and they will just be expecting to rock up at Ibrox and leave with the three points,” said Boyd.

”Rangers, in Europe, they have been good and they’ll be looking to frustrate Tottenham tomorrow night.

”But it’s going to be a very, very difficult game for Rangers.

“If the Tottenham Hotspur that went to the Etihad turn up then it’s going to be a long evening for Rangers.

”You kind of get the feeling that for Rangers everything is going to have to be spot on and for Tottenham, a little bit off it if Rangers are to get anything.

”I’m sure the Ibrox crowd will be up for it, they’ll make it as hostile as they possibly can for Tottenham Hotspur and see where that takes them.”

Ange Postecoglou reckons his Spurs side are in the midst of the worst injury crisis he’s ever faced as a manager ahead of the Europa League trip to play Rangers.

The Australian manager, 59, is returning to Glasgow 18 months on from leaving Celtic for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Postecoglou is expecting a hot reception from Rangers fans.

But there are doubts surrounding as many as eight Spurs players ahead of the match as Tottenham face something of a crisis at centre-back in particular.

Ahead of the Rangers game, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Spurs are still without several key players, including a £43m Netherlands international.

Ange Postecoglou confirms Dutchman is out v Rangers

”Not much better, to be fair,” said Postecoglou when asked how his squad was looking ahead of the Europa League clash, as quoted by Spurs’ official website.

“Obviously, with the weekend’s fall-out, (Cristian) Romero and (Micky) van de Ven, we’re still getting some clarity around their prognosis, but both have picked up injuries that will keep them out again.

“That’s disappointing for us because we’re thin on numbers, but we’ve had to deal with that for quite a while now.

“Everyone else from the weekend got through okay. (Rodrigo) Bentancur is obviously available so at least we get him back.

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“It’s challenging. We’ve also got Ben Davies out who played a big part while the other two have been out.

”It’s no secret we’re thin on numbers both squad wise and position wise.

“But it is what is, we can’t change that, we’ve got some big games coming up starting tomorrow.

“We’ll have to deal with what we’ve got. I’m still confident we’ll be able to get the job done with players at our disposal.”

Spurs boss pledges to get to bottom of injury crisis

The news surrounding Micky van de Ven in particular could not have come at a worse time for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur.

Influential Argentine World Cup winner Cristian Romero has just been ruled out for six weeks after being subbed off early in the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.

Micky van de Ven was also subbed off ten minutes early in the Premier League defeat and there were hopes the centre-back would be fit to face Rangers.

That’s despite the 23-year-old only just returning from a lengthy hamstring injury lay-off in the clash with the Blues.

It comes after Spurs reportedly paid VfL Wolfsburg €50m (£43m) to sign Van de Ven, the Dutch international defender joining the club in the summer.

Ange Postecoglou has reflected on the scale of the club’s medical issues and insists the North London club are doing all they can to look into the problems.

“It’s the same side (for Micky van de Ven’s injury),” said Postecoglou.

“Whether it’s the same one, we’ve just got to get clarity on whether it’s exactly the same spot or a new spot.

“By a fair stretch (it’s the worst injury crisis I’ve ever experienced).

“I never think it’s just bad luck. Some of it. I’ve never lost a goalkeeper for this period of time.

“Some of it is recurring, particularly this year in terms of guys coming back and re-injuring. It’s something we’re looking at.

“We’re always trying to explore whether we can do things better. Last year was different to this year. Last year it hit us across the board.

“This year it’s more guys that are coming back who are affected.

“Knock on wood, we’ve got a core group who are playing a lot and are getting through it ok. But it is something we are trying to address.”

Don’t believe the hype; whilst Tottenham Hotspur do have a number of injury problems in their squad ahead of the Europa League trip to face Rangers, they’re not exactly devoid of options.

Philippe Clement reckons Spurs are ‘one of the best teams in the world’ and has lamented the financial gap between Rangers and their Premier League rivals.

Whilst as many as eight Tottenham players are doubts for the clash at Ibrox, Rangers fans can expect to see some of the club’s top players in Europa League action.

But whilst the likes of Korea legend Heung Min-Son or England international James Maddison will grab the headlines, there’s one player who might’ve wound up at Rangers had things gone differently way back in 2018.

Rangers wanted to sign Dominic Solanke

Cast your mind back to the summer of 2018 and you’ll remember the energy of Steven Gerrard sweeping through Rangers Football Club.

The Liverpool legend took his first foray into top team management at Ibrox and set about rebuilding a squad and club in disarray.

As part of that, Gerrard targeted top young prospects from the Merseyside club’s academy with the likes of Ovie Ejaria and Ryan Kent eventually moving to Ibrox.

But there was one other strongly linked forward in Dominic Solanke who Rangers reportedly hoped to bring to Glasgow on loan.

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Then having just joined Liverpool from Chelsea, Rangers were linked with Solanke throughout the summer of 2018 but eventually the Reds held on to the talented frontman.

Six months later Solanke completed a £17m move to Bournemouth and the rest, as they say, is history.

Spurs striker hailed as ‘unbelievable’

Over six years on from when Dominic Solanke was being linked to Rangers, the England international could finally get the chance to turn out at Ibrox.

That’s because 27-year-old Solanke completed a £65m switch to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer after tearing up the Premier League with Bournemouth.

Since that move, Solanke has returned seven goals and is widely regarded as one of the best English hitmen on the planet.

Rangers will have to keep Dominic Solanke quiet if they stand any chance of overcoming Spurs in the Europa League.

Ange Postecoglou has previously hailed the Tottenham Hotspur star as an ‘unbelievable’ player and Solanke is nailed on to be involved against Rangers at Ibrox.

“I just think the enormous effort he put in on Wednesday night to help us win a game of football, not just physically but mentally, and his capacity to help the team in every way he can,” Postecoglou told the Independent after Solanke scored twice in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa in November.

”To back that up today with such a massive effort again against a pretty difficult team to play against, it’s just unbelievable.

“Yeah, the goals are great and of course as a striker I am sure he loves the fact he can score a couple of goals, but even if he didn’t, I can’t speak highly enough of what he is contributing to our team at the moment.

“And long may it continue because with him playing that way, it just makes us a better team.”