Rangers Europa League rivals Royal Antwerp are reportedly facing a “striker crisis” ahead of the Gers trip to Belgium for their first leg Round of 32 Europa League tie.
The Ibrox side are set to return to knockout European competition for the second season in a row with Steven Gerrard’s side travelling to Belgium for the second time this campaign.
When they do so they will be facing an Antwerp side missing their top scorer through injury and their second choice forward through suspension.
Experienced Congolese striker Dieumerci Mbokani has been ruled out of this weekend’s match with Rangers’ Europa League rivals Standard Liege in the Belgian Jupiler League.
He now faces a “race against time” to be fit for the match with Rangers after missing eight games with a calf injury [Scottish Sun].
Fellow striker Didier Lamkel Ze – who has been at the centre of plenty of controversies recently – is also set to miss the tie through suspension.
The striker must serve a suspension from a red 4-1 home Europa League defeat to AZ Alkmaar in August, 2019 because he has been added to the club’s European squad for the first time.
The Gers are unbeaten in this year’s competition and beat off Antwerp’s compatriots Standard Liege, Portuguese side Benfica and Polish outfit Lech Poznan to qualify as group winners.
Rangers made the last 16 last season but just how far can Steven Gerrard’s charges take it in this year’s competition?