Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers signed Gareth McAuley this month following his departure from West Bromwich Albion.
Ibrox Stadium of Rangers
McAuley joined Steven Gerrard’s Rangers on a free transfer earlier this month following the Northern Ireland international central defender’s departure from West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season.
The 38-year-old central defender did not feature for Northern Ireland in their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina this past Saturday.
The new Rangers signing has been training with his international teammates, and Northern Ireland manager O’Neill has said that the defender has been sent back to Ibrox and will not play against Israel at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
O’Neill told The Daily Record: “Gareth won’t be a part of Tuesday night. He will return to Rangers. It would be unfair to ask Gareth to play in an international after two or three days training.
“The worst thing for me is for Gareth to be put in that position and he possibly picks up a knock and it sets him back. He knows what’s best for him and I’m in total agreement with that.”
Positive for Rangers
It is great of O’Neill to send McAuley back to Rangers where he can train with his Ibrox teammates this week.
The defender needs to train well and also get some decent playing time in the coming weeks in order to get into the groove of things.
Rangers manager Gerrard should be pleased that Northern Ireland boss O’Neill has been so considerate.
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