Joe Worrall is on loan at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers from Championship team Nottingham Forest and has impressed Steven Gerrard.
As anyone who has ever played European football will tell you, the style of football required on the continent can be very different from that needed to succeed in Britain.
Rangers, in their Europa League opener away at Villarreal a fortnight ago, will have discovered that the tempo is slower than the often blood-and-thunder style of Scottish football. The game is more composed, technical and quality in possession is absolutely key.
So this is perhaps why Joe Worrall started in that 2-2 draw in Spain. The 21-year-old centre-back, who is on loan from Nottingham Forest, is renowned for his intelligence and serenity with the ball at his feet, attributes he backed up with a display at Villarreal that Steven Gerrard described as ‘outstanding’, as reported by the Daily Record.
And Worrall is expected to start again as Rangers welcome Rapid Vienna to Ibrox on Thursday. Once again, England’s 2017 Toulon Tournament winning captain will be crucial if the Glasgow giants are to improve in possession against the Austrian outfit.
Gerrard was critical of his side’s ability to hold onto the ball in the first half against Villarreal and Worrall could be an important factor in improving this.
If he can play precise balls into midfield, this is how Rangers can cut through Rapid. Worrall could prove on Thursday that he is the most important player in their European campaign.
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