Giovanni van Bronckhorst to make late call on Ryan Kent's fitness before Champions League showdown
- Scott Allen
- 8 August 2022
Ryan Kent may not get a chance of saving Rangers from being dumped out the Champions League by Royal Union Saint-Gilloise on Tuesday night.
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have to make a very late call on whether Kent starts or is even given a run out against the Belgian side, as the Gers hope to claw back a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their third qualifying-round tie.
Winger Kent has a fairly good chance of being involved after missing the last two games with a knock picked up in the opening league match away to Livingston.
"Ryan did some parts of the training today so we have to assess him tomorrow to see if he's fit enough to start or even get minutes," Van Bronckhorst said at his pre-match media briefing on Monday.
"It's very positive for me that he was on the pitch today.
"He's a player who if he's fit to play, I will have a lot of thinking in my mind. He's a player who can be the difference tomorrow. It will all depend how his fitness is but he's in the squad, which is a sign that if he's fit we want to use him."
Meanwhile the influential Alfredo Morelos - Rangers' record European goal-scorer - is looking a lot more likely to tackle the Belgians.
Morelos scored against Kilmarnock on Saturday as he returned to action as a second-half substitute following almost five months out with a thigh injury.
"Morelos has been with us a little bit longer training and got his first minutes for the season on Saturday so he's there to take part in the game. If it's from the start, we have to assess him tomorrow.
"His presence is there for everyone to see with the reception he got from the crowd on Saturday. We know he is capable of creating chances and scoring goals.
"I'm really happy with Alfredo's first goal on Saturday. We have a lot of creativity now in the team and that's needed for tomorrow when you have to break defensive blocks."
Rangers - who will face PSV Eindhoven or Monaco in the play-off round if they get through - have never previously overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in a European tie.
However, the Light Blues are heartened by memories of last year's run to the Europa League final when they recovered from first-leg defeats away to Braga and RB Leipzig.
"Most of our ties last year, the second leg was at home and we had to make up defeats in the knockout stages," he said.
"It's something we are familiar with. Of course, you don't want it (to be in that position).
"But tomorrow is another chance for us to be the team we can be. I know the players will be there together with the fans and we will give everything to make sure we go through.
"It's very important because we want to stay in the Champions League for the next round and be able to qualify for the group stages.
"First leg wasn't the result we wanted but we have a home game where we can change all that.
"That's what we are capable of and also what we want to do. My objective is to still be in the Champions League next week."
