Halliday looks likely to be given the nod by Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
Former Rangers defender Hugh Burns has told the club’s official podcast that Andy Halliday should start against Maribor on Thursday night, with Steven Gerrard lacking in options at left-back.
Jon Flanagan picked up a yellow card in the first leg against the Slovenian outfit, while new signing Borna Barisic is cup tied following his £2.2million move to Ibrox after playing against Rangers for NK Osijek.
Rangers decided to offload Wales international Declan John on August 9 to Championship side Swansea City for a fee believed to be in the region of £800,000, leaving the Gers without a natural left-back for the Maribor clash.
Midfielder Halliday has played on the left side of defence for Rangers under Graeme Murty towards the end of the 2017-18 campaign, and Burns backed the former Middlesbrough player to impress at left-back.
“Andy Halliday will not let anybody down at left-back,” Burns said. “He’ll play in that wee hole there if that’s where the manager fancies him to play.
“I’m pretty sure that Halliday is his only option at left-back against Maribor, and I’m sure that Halliday will relish the chance to impress on Thursday night.”
Halliday, 26, has only managed three substitute appearances this season, coming on in the dying moments against NK Osijek and Fk Shkupi, while being given 20 minutes on Sunday against St. Mirren.
He remains on the books at Ibrox despite being made surplus to requirements at Rangers at the start of the summer by Gerrard (Daily Mail), and is now expected to start as Rangers look to book their place in the play-off round.
Rangers boast a 3-1 advantage from the first leg thanks to goals from Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Lassana Coulibaly. If they progress, they face FC Ufa or Progres Niederkorn.
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