Charlie Nicholas thinks Rangers will have ‘frustrating night’ at Ibrox on Thursday

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Steven Gerrard and his Glasgow Rangers are in Europa League action at Ibrox against what the Sky Sports pundit deemed an ‘incredibly dangerous’ side.

Glasgow Rangers are set for a “frustrating night” at Ibrox on Thursday in the Europa League, according to Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.

Steven Gerrard’s charges welcome Porto to Ibrox following their 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture last month, a game which saw Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo left out of the Light Blues side.

Nicholas described Gerrard’s decision as a “cunning and experienced plan” which reaped dividends, but has warned the Ibrox side that the opposition remains “incredibly dangerous” despite not being the same proposition of four or five years ago, predicting another 1-1 draw.

Like Celtic, the Rangers draw in Porto was something I didn’t quite anticipate,” Nicholas wrote on Sky Sports News. “Steven Gerrard left out Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo, who haven’t played at this level before. He went with a cunning and experienced plan and it worked a treat with Rangers playing really well.

“Everyone was expecting them to go back to forward and fill in when they didn’t have the ball, but they were worthy of a point, and if not all three. Porto are not what they were four or five year ago but are still incredibly dangerous. They are all technically very good players. The passion, drive and commitment can get you over the line, but it will be a frustrating night for Rangers. It is hard to pin who wins this group and this result will leave it wide open with a draw.”

Rangers remain without Jordan Jones, who is nursing a knee injury, but Steven Gerrard has an otherwise fully-fit squad following the weekend’s 3-0 win over Hearts in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, which set up a final against their Old Firm rivals.

Porto, meanwhile, received a major boost after striker Moussa Marega was declared fit to play – the Mali international missed the Dragons’ last three league games due to a muscle injury but he is ready to return to the squad, as reported by Sky Sports News.