Rangers could utilise Johnly Yfeko against St Johnstone today as Giovanni van Bronckhorst deals with a defensive injury crisis at Ibrox.
The Gers came into the season with Connor Goldson and Filip Helander still at the club whilst summer signings John Souttar and Ben Davies joined them.
Remarkably though, all four are now out injured and Van Bronckhorst is having to cobble together a back four.
Borna Barisic has even played as a centre back but he is needed at left back with Ridvan YIlmaz now injured too.
Rangers could utilise Johnly Yfeko
Bare bones doesn’t quite cut it at the moment and Van Bronckhorst may have to go with teenager Leon King alongside utility man James Sands at the back.
Rangers do though have another option and it comes in the form of Johnly Yfeko.
Football Scotland report that Yfeko is travelling to McDiarmid Park with the Rangers first-team squad for today’s game.
Yfeko has been training with Van Bronckhorst’s men this week and didn’t play in the Lowland League clash against Tranent Juniors on Saturday.
This all seems to point towards Yfeko being on the bench against St Johnstone and who knows – maybe he’s just one injury away from playing.
Yfeko, 19, bears striking parallels to former Rangers defender Calvin Bassey.
Both joined Rangers from Leicester City; Bassey in 2020 and Yfeko just a year later.
Both have been praised for their frame and physicality whilst the likeness even goes to their positioning; Yfeko can play at left back or centre back just like Bassey.
The Nigerian international became a star under Van Bronckhorst and was sold for big money to Ajax over the summer.
Reaching that kind of level is a huge task for Yfeko but Rangers clearly see major potential in him.
Bassey has to be the role model for Yfeko and even if his debut doesn’t come today, it shouldn’t be too far way if he keeps progressing.
Rangers may well have a new Bassey on their hands in Yfeko and that’s what Van Bronckhorst will hope, even if today is too soon for a start.
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