Steven Gerrard is likely set to utilise Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey to guard the Rangers goal against Sparta Prague after losing Connor Goldson to injury, per the Daily Record.
The Ibrox outfit flew out to the Czech Republic on Wednesday, but did so without Goldson or Filip Helander. Gerrard will now tackle the Europa League group stage affair without his first-choice centre-back pairing.
Rangers are also missing one of their back-up centre-halves, as Gerrard left Jack Simpson out of his Europa League squad. The defender has failed to impress since joining the Gers from Bournemouth in February, with just 10 appearances so far.
Gerrard has relied heavily on Goldson over Rangers’ opening batch of fixtures to start the season. The 28-year-old has opened all 13 of his outings across all competitions, only sitting out the Gers’ 2-1 win at St Johnstone when self-isolating after a covid outbreak.
Helander will also miss Thursday evening’s clash at the Generali Ceska Pojistovna Arena as he recovers from a knee injury. Rangers do not expect the Swede to return until December having required surgery after being stretchered off against St Johnstone.
Balogun and Goldson opened the Ibrox outfit’s 1-0 win over Dundee last Saturday, while Simpson had joined Goldson against Motherwell. Bassey has featured seven times this season, but each outing has come in his natural left-back role.
Should Rangers start Bassey centrally after Goldson’s injury?
Bassey has featured at centre-back previously in his career, but Gerrard has only used the 21-year-old there sparingly at Rangers. He made three outings from the position last term, and even scored against Falkirk in the League Cup Last 16.
Two of Bassey’s outings at centre-back for Rangers also lasted just 11 and nine minutes, compared to 90 against Falkirk. Coming on as a late replacement against St Johnstone in April and Lech Poznan last December.
Minutes were more frequent in central defence for the Italy-born defender with Leicester’s academy before moving to Glasgow last year. Making 15 appearances in the heart of the Foxes U23s’ backline and 10 with the Premier League outfit’s U18s.
Gerrard now trusting Bassey with standing in for Goldson after the Rangers star’s injury would be a big test. Thursday’s clash with Sparta Prague would be the toughest opposition faced in the position so far in his fledgling career.
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