Rangers 'Forced' to exclude big-name stars from Euro squad - report

Rangers have been “forced” to exclude Danilo and Rabbi Matondo from their Europa League squad, according to the Scottish Sun.

The paper reported via their website on 5 September that the requirement to include eight club and country-trained players is to blame, as Philippe Clement only has four to choose from.

Liam Kelly, Kevin Budinauckas, Connor Barron and John Souttar are all in, but that means the Belgian has four fewer to choose from for the rest of the over-21 options.

Ianis Hagi is also not included as he has been frozen out by Clement despite wanting to stay [Sky Sports, 12 August], while according to the UEFA website all the club’s summer signings have been named, along with the likes of Kieran Dowell and Nico Raskin.

Rabbi Matondo left out of Rangers squad after injury

Concerns around the potency of the Light Blues attack aren’t going to be improved by the naming of the European squad.

Only four senior forwards have been named on the UEFA website, including attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence, although 21-year-old Ross McCausland will also be available as all the homegrown under-21s are.

Cyriel Dessers has scored five goals so far this season and looks like he is going to be the main man for the foreseeable future if Danilo isn’t fit enough to make this squad, although Hamza Igamane is named after finally making his debut in the 3-0 loss at Celtic.

That other injured players such as Raskin and Oscar Cortes have been named shows that it is not simply an abundance of caution being shown around those who are not fully fit.

Deadline day signings Nedim Bajrami and Naraysho Kasanwirjo might have a major impact once they are phased in, and Igamane could belatedly prove to be key.

But as things stand Clement’s options look thin after a frustrating transfer window, and in European competition now appear even thinner.

In other Rangers news, an Ibrox-linked sensation’s father admits “that time will probably come” amid interest from the Light Blues.

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