Rangers manager Philippe Clement has a number of injury issues in his squad heading into the Europa League clash with Lyon.
The Gers are ready to welcome the Ligue 1 giants to Ibrox for another Thursday night clash under the lights in Glasgow.
But there are some doubts surrounding some of the club’s most important players with several now certain set to miss tomorrow’s clash.
Speaking to the press ahead of the match, Philippe Clement gave an injury update to the press and confirmed the situation with Mohamed Diomande.
Rangers injury update ahead of Lyon clash
Heading into the Europa League clash with Lyon, Rangers know they will be without a number of players for the match.
Brazilian striker Danilo and Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo are both unregistered for the club’s Europa League squad due to long-term injury problems.
Oscar Cortes is also expected to spend a few more weeks on the sidelines as he works his way back from another injury blow.
Turkish international Ridvan Yilmaz was spotted back in Rangers training this week but until the press conference it was unclear if the left-back was ever an option for the Lyon clash.
Rangers fans are also chewing their fingernails over the fitness of influential Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Diomande, who missed the weekend’s win over Hibs.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Lyon, Clement has since confirmed that Rangers will be able to call on Dio at Ibrox whilst the match comes too soon for Ridvan.
“Yes (Mohamed Diomande) will be back in the squad yes,” said Clement.
“Nothing special for the rest. The guys who were out, they will stay out.
“Ridvan is training with the team now for the first times but he will not be ready to be in the selection yet.
“It’s too early and it’s too dangerous so we need to take a little bit more time for that.”
Philippe Clement makes Ibrox ‘12th player’ request
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has also called on the fans to be like a ‘12th player’ against Lyon at Ibrox.
The ex-AS Monaco boss has pointed to the gap in finances with Lyon splashing the guts of £125m on new transfers this summer alone.
Rangers in comparison have rebuilt their squad on a tight budget with Clement insisting even a draw against the French outfit would be a positive result.
But with expectations huge at Ibrox, the Rangers manager wants a sell-out Glasgow crowd to cheer his team on to a special victory.
“It would feel huge (to win the first two Europa league games),” said Clement. “But also winning against Lyon would be a huge thing.
“Even a draw would be a very, very good result if you see the difference in budget that they can spend on transfers.
“So we go full for that and we go for the three points, not to play only to get one point. But then we need everybody on his top.
“We need a few players who go above their level and have an amazing evening with the fans being like a 12th player outside the pitch but that you feel the energy on the pitch. That’s what we need also.”
Rangers face Lyon in MD2 of the Europa League with kick off at Ibrox set for 8pm on Thursday 3rd October.
