In hindsight, Philippe Clement may have made a few different calls when selecting Rangers’ Europa League roster at the beginning of the current campaign.
Back in September, after a controversial Champions League play-off defeat by Dinamo Kyiv forced Rangers back into Europe’s second-tier continental competition, Clement opted against including either Danilo or Ianis Hagi.
A decision he would later describe as ‘a pity’.
Danilo was in the midst of yet another injury, at the time. Ianis Hagi, meanwhile, looked certain to have played his final game in that blue shirt due to a contract wrangle which was not sorted out until months later down the line.
As such, Clement has been forced to do without both Danilo and Hagi in the Europa League, even as the attacking duo breathed fresh life into their Rangers careers domestically.
There is a silver lining, however. Free from the rigours of those midweek excursions, Hagi has stayed fit and fresh at a time when many of his Gers teammates hit the proverbial wall due to a gruelling fixture schedule.
And while Danilo is facing another few weeks out with a ‘small upper body injury’, the £5 million signing from Feyenoord has undoubtedly benefitted from his involvement being largely limited to weekend action.
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Ianis Hagi and Clinton Nsiala should be ‘fresh’ for Dundee United vs Rangers
Clement can probably be forgiven, meanwhile, for leaving Clinton Nsiala out of his Europa roster too.
The summer signing from AC Milan arrived in Glasgow having not played a single senior minute. And his sudden emergence as one of Scottish football’s rising stars only came about due to a defensive injury crisis at the beginning of 2025.
The 21-year-old Frenchman – Nsiala was likened to Virgil van Dijk last week by Rangers teammate Ross McCausland – will be back in contention for Sunday’s lunchtime trip to Tannadice.
And while Dundee United coach Jim Goodwin has some sympathy for his opposite number as Clement finds himself under pressure to balance European and continental exploits, he does point out that two members of the Rangers XI will have the benefit of a week’s rest.
“We know what it’s like ourselves, having come through that busy period from Christmas into January. Only having 48 hours to recover in between games is a difficult task, no doubt, for the Rangers squad,” Goodwin tells the official Dundee United website.
“But they’ve got some good strength and depth in their team. Some key players who missed out [against Manchester United on Thursday, like Hagi and Nsiala] will be nice and fresh.
“We try and focus as much as we can on ourselves. We know that Rangers are a good side and they’ve got some very good individuals within their team, but it’s about us getting our game plan right.
“It’s about us being brave on the ball when we get the opportunity to play and being more clinical in front of goal than we were in the second half against Dundee.”
Goodwin highlights Rangers quality despite dismal away record
Former forward Billy Dodds labelled Rangers’ away form ‘outrageously poor’ after Clement’s side dropped two points at Dundee United’s city neighbours earlier in January. The Gers have won just three of 11 Premiership matches on rival turf this term.
September’s 1-0 triumph at Tannadice accounts for one third of that total, however, Tom Lawrence bundling in the only goal of a pretty unconvincing victory in the seventh minute.
“I know a lot has been made about Rangers away from home, but the only game I can look back on is the one where they beat us here at Tannadice in September,” Goodwin adds. “They’re a very good side.
“I thought they gave a really good account of themselves at Old Trafford. I watched the game, they were up against a good Man United team. Philippe Clermont and his players will take confidence from that.
“They’ve had their struggles of late as well in the league, but it’s a team that’s full of international-class players. As always, the focus for us in the build-up to any game is about where we can hurt the opposition.”
