Earlier in the week, Christian Panucci described Eros Grezda as being a key part of Albania’s European Championship Qualifying Campaign [originally Daily Record].
Yet, in one of the country’s biggest games of the group, the Rangers winger had to settle for a place on the bench.
Grezda came off the bench for the final half an hour or so but couldn’t stop Albania succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to Turkey.
It suggests that the player still is only fit enough to start a game from the bench. But any minutes he gets under his belt is bound to help his progression.
Injuries have interrupted Grezda’s time in Glasgow
Grezda, 23, has only been seen once in a Rangers shirt this year, against Kilmarnock last week, and hasn’t done enough to convince Rangers fans he has what it takes.
But the player comes with a glowing reputation and fans must be patient as he settles into the club and Scottish football. The same can be said of all three of the players Rangers signed from Croatian football at the start of the season.
Albania play Andorra on Monday in their second game of the group. It now looks like a must win for the Balkan country. There will be harder tests to come with the likes of Iceland and France in Albania’s group.
Rangers fans will be hoping Grezda plays a greater role in those matches as he continues his recovery from injury.
And if Christian Panucci was being sincere with his comments, he’ll be hoping Eros is back in the starting XI and helping to inspire Albania’s qualification hopes.
