LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Steven Gerrard delivers triple Rangers boost ahead of Maribor clash

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is seen during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Rangers and Wigan Athletic at Ibrox Stadium on July 29, 2018 in...
Follow us on Google Discover

Gerrard was facing a lack of central midfield options ahead of Thursday night’s clash between Rangers and Maribor.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is seen during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Rangers and Wigan Athletic at Ibrox Stadium on July 29, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Steven Gerrard has given Rangers fans a huge boost when speaking to the club’s official website by delivering positive news on three central midfielders ahead of Thursday’s second leg against Maribor.

Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Lassana Coulibaly were all doubts to face the Slovenian outfit away from home, as Gerrard looks to push his side into the Europa League play-off qualifying round.

Former Aberdeen midfielder Jack has been sidelined since the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen, after suffering a concussion following a robust aerial battle with Stevie May. Arfield was rested on Sunday, after returning from a knee injury recently.

Coulibaly, currently on loan from French side Angers SCO, limped off the Ibrox pitch on Sunday, but he is expected to be okay ahead of Thursday’s second leg. Gerrard confirmed that all three are in with a chance of featuring.

“Ryan is back in full training today (Tuesday) so assuming he gets through today and tomorrow he will be available for selection,” Gerrard said. ““Lassana has recovered quite well and we don’t think it is a big issue, we think it is more down to maybe fatigue.

“Scott was just rested at the weekend, he had two or three weeks out with his knee and then he came back and played two full games, one of them was with ten men against Aberdeen.”

Scott Arfield of Rangers is congratulated by his team mates after scoring a goal in the second half of the game during the Pre-Season Friendly between Rangers and Bury at Ibrox Stadium on...

Rangers boast a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg with Maribor, thanks to goals from James Tavernier, Alfredo Morelos and indeed midfielder Coulibaly from the first leg last week at Ibrox.

An aggregate win will see Rangers progress into the last qualifying round before the Europa League group stages. They will face either Russian side FC UFA or Progres Niederkorn, who knocked the Gers out last season under Pedro Caixinha.

Lassana Coulibaly of Rangers is seen during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Rangers and Wigan Athletic at Ibrox Stadium on July 29, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland.