Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has put the brakes on any fans getting carried away with the inclusion of Ryan Jack in the Ibrox club’s Europa League squad.
Jacko is currently working his way back from surgery on a troublesome calf injury and whilst Gerrard admits there has been some progress, the latest from the manager suggests premature assumptions regarding Europe may well have been short-lived.
Ryan Jack, 29, is a very influential player for Rangers but it’s clear that the player’s inclusion in the Europa League squad is more to do with his homegrown status, rather than his injury situation.
“Ryan Jack has had a positive week but isn’t available just yet,” explained Gerrard [Rangers].
“I think you’ve got to understand how this squad works because I’m not sure you’re totally educated [on the Europa League squad rules].
“I had to do a lot of work around it myself – that’s not to be disrespectful – the Scottish lads that have been trained at a Scottish Academy are almost a free pass into the squad anyway.
“So it’s not as if anyone else is put out by Ryan Jack’s selection but I think everyone is well aware of how much I rate Ryan Jack and how much I want him back because he makes the XI and the group a lot stronger.
“I think we get around 17 picks that aren’t an Academy or Scottish trained player, and that’s unfortunate because you want to pick everyone.
“But a lot of the names you see in the squad – i.e. Stephen Kelly, Robby McCrorie, Nathan Patterson, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor – they automatically are in the squad without taking a place anyway.”
Under UEFA rules, clubs must register at least eight homegrown players in their 25-man European squad with four of those spaces dedicated to players homegrown at each club’s Academy.
If these spaces can’t be filled, they must be left empty and this is a challenge for clubs across the continent.
Whilst the return of Ryan Jack does appear to be getting closer, it appears the club continue to monitor his situation and the Europa League selection is not to be taken as any major hint.
Whilst Ryan Jack might not make the Europa League opener against Lyon next week, he certainly won’t be the only one.
