Injured Rangers defender Leon Balogun is back in the squad for the visit of St Mirren in a boost to the club’s resources at both right and center-back ahead of the crunch clash.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard revealed that Balogun has recovered from the quad injury which kept him out against Livingston meaning Nathan Patterson has some competition for the right-back berth.
🎙️ SG: Balogun returns to the squad. Roofe and Jack are on-course to return to training after the weekend, Tavernier will be a bit longer.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 5, 2021
The Ibrox gaffer also revealed that both Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe were likely to return to training at the beginning of next week whilst James Tavernier is still recovering.
“Balogun returns to the squad,” said Gerrard [Twitter]. “Roofe and Jack are on-course to return to training after the weekend, Tavernier will be a bit longer.”
It’s not clear if Gerrard will stick with Nathan Patterson for the visit of St Mirren with an apparent SFA ban still lingering over Covid-19 breaches.
Alongside four other Ibrox players – including two first-teamers in Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu – Patterson is still awaiting the SFA’s judgment on a high-profile Covid-19 breach.
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Whilst the news on Balogun helps beef up Rangers’ options Patterson is undoubtedly the club’s main back-up right-back and with every suggestion he’ll be available, then he should start this match.
Injured Rangers captain James Tavernier isn’t as close to a return to action as three of his Ibrox teammates are. ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / Photo News via Getty Images)
The absence of James Tavernier also remains a blow but there are hopes we could see the skipper again ahead of the club securing 55.
Rangers boss Gerrard spoke earlier in the week about the captain’s injury and suggested his recovery is going slower than expected ahead of the season’s crescendo.