Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has given an update on Rangers defender Borna Barisic after injury kept him out of their first two games at Euro 2020 – and hinted he could return for the final game against the Czech Republic next week.
Barisic suffered a recurrence of the back injury that ended his club season prematurely and underwent an MRI scan last week to discover the extent of the problem.
With that not ruling him out of the tournament completely, Dalic is hopeful he’ll be fit for the final fixture, calling it a “great pity” that he’s been sidelined so far.
“Yes, Borna is unfortunately out of the team because he is injured and that is a really great pity for the Croatian team,” Dalic said, as quoted by the Glasgow Times.
“He has had a very great season with Rangers. He was in great condition but since he came to train and prepare himself, he managed to injure himself and unfortunately he has not been able to get back in the greatest form.
“That is why we have left him home, so that he can work on trying to prepare as well as possible for the next game.
“We expect him. We need him. But, at this moment, we have to play without him and we are very sorry for that.”
Positive news for Rangers
The possibility of Barisic returning to action before the end of the Euros is a positive for Rangers ahead of a massive season for the Light Blues.
A title defence and a return to the Champions League will see Steven Gerrard’s squad pushed to their limit.
A lack of real cover for Barisic would leave Gerrard having to either throw in the inexperienced Calvin Bassey or move the likes of Joe Aribo from midfield should the Croatian need more time to recover.
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