Rangers manager Steven Gerrard’s comments after Saturday’s win over Celtic suggest Bongani Zungu could come into contention to face Lech Poznan at the end of the month [RangersTV].
The Gers signed the South Africa international on an initial season-long loan deal from Amiens on deadline day.
However, he’s yet to join up with the squad as he is currently quarantining following his arrival from France.
The 28-year-old has been supplied with gym equipment at his residence, though, and Gerrard has suggested it won’t be long before he’s available to make his debut.
“Hopefully in 10-12 days time we’ve got someone to add to that [the midfield options] in Bongani Zungu, who will be more ready then,” said the Gers boss, as captured by RangersTV.
The comments all but confirm that Zungu will be unavailable for Rangers’ next two fixtures against Standard Liège and Livingston, as expected, but he looks set to join up with the squad at some point during the week beginning 26th October.
That would give him an outside chance of making the bench for the Europa League group stage fixture against Lech Poznan at Ibrox on 29 October, which was 12 days away when Gerrard gave this interview.
Failing that, the Bafana Bafana star could make his bow three days later when the Gers travel to Kilmarnock for an important league match.
Gerrard’s side have struggled at Rugby Park in the past and the inclusion of Zungu on the bench for that game would give the Rangers manager the chance to change the dynamic in the middle of the park if things weren’t going to plan.
