The Examiner reports that Rangers could be without Scott Arfield for the start of their Europa League qualifying campaign.
Arfield was a consistently impressive performer across 2018/19.
He scored eleven goals and registered six assists in the SPL, as well as netting away at Villarreal in the Europa League proper.
However, Gerrard may have to do without the 30-year-old for at least the first leg of the first qualifying round, in July.
That’s because of a clash with international duty.
Arfield is the current captain of Canada, who will soon be competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, hosted by the United States, Jamaica, and Costa Rica.
The 16-team competition gets underway on 15 June, but the final is scheduled for the Sunday 7 July. Meanwhile, the Gers’ Europa League campaign will kick off on Thursday 11th.
Therefore, given the logistics of flying back from Chicago, it’s near certain Arfield won’t make it back in time to be available, should Canada make the final.
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The potential ramifications of his international involvement may go beyond this first game, though. There’s also a question of fatigue.
Steven Gerrard did let Arfield skip the final game of the season in order to rest. However, even with that factored in, the midfielder could be in action from June until January without a tangible rest period.
The ex-Burnley man is crucial to Rangers’ title bid. Therefore, he will require careful management over the first part of the campaign, if he’s to keep injury at bay.
Here are the three easiest and toughest draws the Gers could receive for QR1, based on the UEFA coefficient.
