Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers reportedly had a bit of drama involving one summer signing, but the caretaker boss has cleared it up.
Speaking to Rangers TV, Graeme Murty has revealed the reason as to why Bruno Alves was not in the squad for Saturday’s defeat by Hamilton.
The veteran Portugal centre-back was nowhere to be seen as the Accies pulled off a shock 2-0 win at Ibrox, with caretaker boss Murty fielding Danny Wilson and Ross McCrorie in central defence.
The Times later reported that Alves was omitted from the squad after refusing a spot on the bench upon learning that the 43-year-old had left him out of the first XI.
Rangers fans were open in their criticism of Murty on Twitter today, but the former Reading defender reveals that a “sore back” ruled him out of the contest and nothing more controversial.
“Bruno Alves wasn’t fit for Saturday with a sore back and he has stepped up his rehab, but it is very much a day-by-day process for him and we will see how he reports in tomorrow,” he told Rangers TV.
Alves, who has 94 caps for his country, is comfortably the Gers’ best central defender and it seemed odd that Murty had reportedly dropped him to the bench.
But, following the surprise defeat, it is obvious now that Murty simply cannot afford to drop him, if that was ever in his mind.
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