Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has added veteran keeper Jon McLaughlin to his squad for the Europa League playoff with Alashkert after the Scotland international was left out of the group for the Champions League qualifiers with Malmo.
The Rangers boss opted to Name Allan McGregor and Robby McCrorie on his ‘A list’ of players for the Champions League ties but has added McLaughlin ahead of tonight’s first leg at Ibrox.
McLaughlin takes the place of midfielder Nnamdi Ofoborh after the midfielder was diagnosed with a heart issue that has put his Rangers career on hold.
With a shortage of homegrown players, the Gers haven’t been able to name their full complement of 25 players on the A list – although that is supplemented by a host of talented Academy graduates such as Nathan Patterson and Stephen Kelly featuring on the B list.
Eight of the 25 A list players must be homegrown (either club trained or trained at another club in the same domestic territory) with Rangers only able to name five, forcing the Gers to leave three spots in the A list open.
That has meant the likes of Jermain Defoe and Niko Katic have also been left out of the squad, while any new signings made before the end of the transfer window will have to take the place of someone already on the list – if Rangers progress to the group stages.
Rangers Europa League A list in full
Allan McGregor*
Jon McLaughlin
Robby McCrorie*
James Tavernier
Calvin Bassey
Filip Helander
Connor Goldson
Jack Simpson
Leon Balogun
Borna Barisic
John Lundstram
Ianis Hagi
Ryan Jack^
Steven Davis
Ryan Kent
Glen Kamara
Joe Aribo
Scott Arfield^
Cedric Itten
Alfredo Morelos
Kemar Roofe
Scott Wright^
(* denotes club-trained player, ^ denotes domestically trained player)
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