Rangers will turn to a host of youngsters ahead of the club’s Europa League clash with Alashkert as some of the club’s youngest stars are snapped heading out to Armenia.
This comes after a Covid-19 outbreak at Ibrox forced six first-team stars and manager Steven Gerrard into self-isolation ahead of a crunch week for the Gers.
Rangers face Alashkert out in Armenia before welcoming Old Firm rivals Celtic to Ibrox only three days later for the first Scottish Premiership Old Firm clash of the season.
It’s a task made harder by the interruption caused by the confirmed Covid-19 positives, even if it remains unclear which players have been affected by the situation [Rangers].
However, what we do know is that manager Steven Gerrard hasn’t travelled to Armenia and neither have first-team stars James Tavernier, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Kent, Scott Wright, Allan McGregor or Jon McLaughlin.
In their place, the Ibrox club has called upon no fewer than eight Academy youngsters to come in and patch over the gaps in the squad.
These come from across the Academy spectrum with the likes of Stephen Kelly and Robby McCrorie perhaps closer to the first team.
Alex Lowry, Arron Lyall, Kyle McClelland and Cole McKinnon are getting a major taste of first-team football at this level after imprssing in the B team and just being in and around the squad is a major learning experience.
Goalkeepers Nicky Hogarth and Kieran Wright have also been called up to provide back-up to Robby McCrorie in Armenia.
These names were confirmed by David Edgar on the Heart & Hand Daily Update [25/08/21].
The Daily Record had a photographer on the ground at Glasgow airport and some of these youngsters have been spotted heading out on their first European trip with the Ibrox side.
Rangers assistant Gary McAllister also confirmed that some of these names will be involved in the match in Armenia.
“We have some youngsters who have come from the B Team and have impressed recently and have impressed when they have come over and trained with the first team, and we are confident, if we get in a nice position, all of them can go on the pitch,” said McAllister [Rangers].
“If that was the case, that would be massive for them, and already, it is a great experience for these younger guys to have come and joined the training today and then traveling after, it has probably been a first for all of them.
“But they are well capable and we are very confident in these young players.”
Whilst we expect some of these players to get some time on the pitch for Rangers, one player in particular is primed for his long-awaited Ibrox debut.
