Steven Gerrard explains Daniel Candeias selection in Rangers clash

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Glasgow Rangers winger Daniel Candeias was selected for the Ibrox side’s Europa League clash on Thursday.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard told the club’s official YouTube channel ahead of the second-leg of the Gers’ Europa League second qualifying round tie with Osijek that Daniel Candeias had forced his way back into the side with his performance against Wigan at the weekend and his attitude in training.

Gerrard made just one change from the first-leg, and it seems to fair to suggest that it was a change that few would probably have been expecting as Jamie Murphy dropped down to the bench for the rematch.

And ahead of the game – which Rangers took a 1-0 lead into thanks to an Alfredo Morelos goal last week – Gerrard explained that Candeias had forced his way into the side.

“He’s trained very well. I was also very pleased with his performance against Wigan,” he told Rangers’ official YouTube channel.

“I thought he played with aggression and I felt like he ran very hard for the team and he got an assist in the game so he should be in a good place, but he’s played his way back into contention. But the team will change and we’ll treat things as we go along, there’s going to be a lot of games coming up.”

While Murphy’s absence was arguably a surprise, it should surprise few fans that Candeias has impressed Gerrard with the application that he has shown.

The Portuguese took little time following his summer move last year to make himself something of a cult-hero, and continued to impress throughout the campaign with his work-rate and his quality.

And Candeias displacing a similarly integral member of the side in Murphy undoubtedly sends a message out to the rest of the squad that Gerrard is prepared to reward those who catch his eye with the work that they are doing.