HERE WE GO: Philippe Clement has ‘Major’ Europa League decision to make on Rangers ace

Philippe Clement, Rafael Fernandes, Rangers badgePhilippe Clement must exclude a Rangers ace from the Europa League squad [Credit: Imago, Rangers …

Philippe Clement has ‘Major’ Europa League decision to make on Rangers ace

Philippe Clement must make a major decision at Rangers today.

The Belgian has been receiving his flowers this week, as Kris Boyd lauded the boss for his “huge” achievement of finishing in the top eight of the Europa League league phase.

 

 

 

However, there is no time to wallow in the success as the deadline for submitting the 25-man squad for the knockout stages of the competition must be submitted by 11pm on Thursday (6 February).

 

According to The Rangers Review (5 February), loan signing Rafael Fernandes, Danilo, Clinton Nsiala and exit-linked Ianis Hagi are the four names under consideration to make the squad.

 

As per UEFA rules, only three changes can be made to a squad after the league phase of the tournament, meaning Clement cannot afford to make the wrong call.

 

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Philippe Clement must exclude Rafael Fernandes at Rangers

Although 22-year-old Fernandes arrived on loan from Lille to help ease the ongoing defensive injury concerns at Ibrox, his name makes the most sense among those mentioned to miss out on the Europa League squad.

 

Since his reintegration into the first team fold, Hagi has been nothing short of “unbelievable.” With four goals and five assists to his name this season, Clement would be losing one of the main creative outlets in his side if he left the Romanian out.

 

The same goes for Danilo, who, alongside Hamza Igamane, has pushed top goalscorer Cyriel Dessers to the back of the pecking order at Ibrox.

 

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Therefore, the only major decision is which of Nsiala and Fernandes will make the final spot in the Europa League squad.

With Neraysho Kasanwirjo sustaining a season-ending injury and Kieran Dowell departing to spend the rest of the season on loan at League One outfit Birmingham City, Clement should consider himself lucky, in a sense, to be able to tinker with his squad ahead of the knockout stages.

 

Nevertheless, Fernandes only boasts minimum Portuguese top-flight experience on his CV thus far, whereas Nsiala performed to a high standard during John Souttar’s absence and is the more worthwhile competition to the Englishman and Robin Propper.

 

Rangers are set to receive a £10million windfall for the top-eight finish, and with the hope of further financial gain further down the line, Clement should make the obvious choice staring him in the face.

 

In other Rangers news, Craig Moore shares his honest Cyriel Dessers verdict after the Gers’ transfer decision.

 

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