Ex-Rangers star Ridvan Yilmaz is eyeing his first Turkey cap for 20 months.
The 22-year-old left-back last played for the Turkish national team in March 2022 when he played 62 minutes in a 3-2 home defeat to Italy to earn his sixth cap.
Whilst Ridvan Yilmaz has been named in Turkey squads since – albeit the last time in September 2022 – the Rangers star didn’t get off the bench in clashes with Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands.
Since that last cap, Ridvan Yilmaz has been caught in the limbo of sporadic Ibrox appearances and extended spells in the club’s injury treatment room.
But as an intriguing Euro 2024 qualifier awaits Turkey, there are hopes the left-back’s international recall is another sign of the player’s recovery at Rangers.
Ridvan Yilmaz in line for Turkey chance
Turkey’s European Championship status has already been confirmed in Group D and as a result Ridvan Yilmaz might fancy his chances of facing Wales in Cardiff.
Whilst Ridvan and his Turkish teammates are guaranteed safe passage to Germany – a team they will also coincidentally face in a friendly this Saturday – Wales are not.
In fact, by the time Rob Page’s side welcome the Ibrox star they may need a victory in order to progress to next summer’s tournament.
With Wales and Croatia – who have ironically dropped fellow Rangers left-back Borna Barisic – tied on points heading into the final two games of the group, it might all come down to the final day.
Turkey’s status as an already qualified team might bode very well for Ridvan who looks very much in line to win his 7th cap for the country during this break.
Rangers need more from left-back
Exposure to professional football at the international level can only be good for a player’s development and this is as true of Ridvan Yilmaz as it is of anyone else.
The fact that even amid all the injuries the youngster has still managed to earn six caps is a testament to the belief the nation’s management have in the one-time Super Lig talent.
Breaking through at Besiktas, Ridvan Yilmaz’s performances in Turkey did enough to turn Rangers heads who in the aftermath of Calvin Bassey’s sale forked out an initial £3.4m to sign the left-back.
Based on appearances, Rangers might wind up paying closer to £5m and it’s a substantial commitment for someone who was technically in the final year of his deal when he signed.
Since arriving in Glasgow under former manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, issues settling in Glasgow and then recurring injury problems have meant the left-back has only made 23 appearances for the club.
With plenty made about Rangers’ injury problems, the situation with Ridvan Yilmaz represents amongst the most frustrating.
Now back fit and back in the amongst the squad – albeit not the European one – it’s time for Ridvan Yilmaz to deliver for Rangers as hopes build on a return on the club’s investment.
A good performance with Turkey would be a welcome confidence boost and Rangers fans will have one eye on any involvement.
With Borna Barisic also being linked with a move out of the club, the timing of such a breakthrough could be perfect.
Ridvan Yilmaz is one of six Rangers stars called up for their countries during the international break.
