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Rangers Europa League team sees two Ibrox stars worth combined £7m cut as striker suffers fresh injury setback

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The Brazilian striker has been forced to undergo surgery on his knee again and faces another period on the sidelines

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has selected a 21-man squad for the Europa League group phase – with two notable absentees failing to make the cut.

Clubs are permitted to submit a list of up to 25 names for UEFA competitions, providing that eight players fall into the ‘homegrown’ category. However, the Ibrox boss has only four stars who fall under that banner – goalkeeping duo Liam Kelly and Lewis Budinauckas along with midfielder Connor Barron and defender John Souttar.

And with the Light Blues not able to select four players over the age of 21, Clement has taken the shock decision to leave out crocked pair Danilo and Rabbi Matondo, with the former suffering yet another injury blow after reports confirmed the £6 million Brazilian forward has been forced to undergo a second operation on his knee that will keep him on the sidelines for around a month.

Danilo missed a large chunk of last season after requiring surgery on his damaged knee last December, just a few weeks after fracturing his cheekbone in a match against St Johnstone. He returned for pre-season and had been steadily building his way back up to full fitness but has now been hit with another major setback on his road to recovery.

According to the Rangers Review ithe 25-year-old ex-Feyenoord man has gone under the knife again and will take at least four weeks to nurse his way back. It leaves Clement short of options in attack, with current first-choice Cyriel Dessers shouldering much of the responsibility. That could open the door to new signing Hamza Iganame, who made his long-awaited debut for the Ibrox club in the 3-0 Premiership defeat to rivals Celtic at Parkhead.

The news comes after fans recently expressed fears around Danilo’s fitness when he was spotted limping ahead of the Champions League qualifying defeat to Dynamo Kyiv. Clement dismissed rumours of the player carrying a knock, stating last month: “Dani always has that kind of walk – look from the moment when he came into the club. I’ve been watching him for a long time. I wanted to get him to Brugge when he was at Ajax and wasn’t playing there and he had that walk also at that moment so nobody has to worry about that. There’s nothing going on with him.”

Matondo, meanwhile, was forced to withdraw from the Wales squad earlier this week with a hamstring strain picked up in the Old Firm drubbing. Frozen out playmaker Ianis Hagi is not included after being told he won’t play for Rangers again by Clement, while Ross McCausland and summer signing Clinton Nsiala are also omitted. Youngsters Leon King, Bailey Rice and Alex Lowry all feature on the B-team list.

Rangers Europa League squad

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Liam Kelly, Lewis Budinauckas

Defenders: James Tavernier, Ridvan Yilmaz, Robin Propper, John Souttar, Dujon Sterling, Jefte, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Oscar Cortes, Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande, Nedim Bajrami, Kieran Dowell, Nicolas Raskin.

Forwards: Cyriel Dessers, Tom Lawrence, Vaclav Cerny, Hamza Igamane

 

‘Elite’ ex-Celtic ace finds new home: contract length, why they signed Scotland star, and the club’s Rangers connections

The Scotland international has joined two former Rangers players in making a surprise switch to the Major Soccer League (MLS) club. Stuart Armstrong will become the third Scottish international to play in the MLS this season after signing a two-year contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The 32-year-old midfielder, a former Celtic title winner, will team up with Scotland’s Ryan Gauld and join the Canadian club on a free transfer after being released from newly promoted Southampton in June.

Brought to the south coast from the Scottish champions back in 2018 for a fee of £7million, Armstrong brought down the curtain on his time his six-year say St. Mary’s during the summer and was loosely linked with moves to Fiorentina and the Hoops, while he also spent time on trial with English Premier League side Brentford. However, he has now completed a surprise move across the pond to sign for Vancouver Whitecaps instead.

“We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver,” said Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster. “He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland. He brings experience, tactical awareness, positional flexibility, and a very high work rate. In addition, his passing range and elite chance creation from the midfield position will add another dimension to our team’s overall attack.”

The Whitecaps are one point ahead of sixth place Portland Timbers in the MLS Western Conference division, which has them on course to reach the MLS playoffs with just nine games left in the regular season. Armstrong could make his debut this weekend, with the Canadian side facing FC Dallas at their home ground of BC Place, and the midfielder not involved in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Poland and Portugal.

The move means Armstrong will link up with Gauld and join fellow Scotland and New York Red Bulls star Lewis Morgan in the MLS this year, while he also follows in the footsteps of former Rangers players Kenny Miller and Fraser Aird, who have also featured for the Whitecaps in the past.

 

Celtic confirm summer exit as prospect completes move to Scottish Championship side

Regarding incomings and outgoings, Celtic’s transfer activity is starting to take form.

As players figure out the best path for their careers, changes will start to show at all levels, especially for young prospects eager to make a name for themselves in the professional game of football.

Prodigious Celtic talent has found it difficult to make the first squad, and after spending time at Lennoxtown, several players move on to acquire crucial experience.

The Bhoys have revealed that one of their prospects is going on to a new challenge ahead of the upcoming campaign, and the summer window is well started.

Magnus MacKenzie joins Queens Park after leaving Celtic
After spending seven years in the academy stadium, young Magnus MacKenzie has now permanently transferred to Queens Park, according to confirmation from Celtic B’s official X account earlier today.

“The setup at Queen’s Park looks brilliant, and after listening to the plans for the future, I was very impressed,” he said in reference to Queens Park FC. As soon as I learnt that I had the option, I wanted to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

I have been at Celtic since I was young and received a great grounding in the game. Being there was a great learning experience, and I am looking to build on that at Queen’s Park.”

Former Celtic B manager Tommy McIntyre is now Academy Director at Queens Park and reacted to the versatile left-sided man’s switch across Glasgow, where he has signed a two-year deal.

McIntyre said: “Magnus is a top young player with plenty of talent. I worked with him when he was at Celtic, and I know what his capabilities are and what we are getting. He can play left-back and left wing-back, and we are lucky to get hold of him. Magnus is one that will be pushing for the First Team before long.”

Encouragingly, McKenzie will have some familiar faces to lean on at his new club, which will help him settle in nicely. Hopefully, he can go on to have a prosperous career after working his way through the ranks at Celtic. Best of luck, Magnus!



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