Many Rangers fans are calling for Borna Barisic to be dropped and replaced by Calvin Bassey for Thursday night’s Europa League playoff first leg against Alashkert.
The Gers are taking on the Armenian champions at Ibrox in an 8pm kick-off, as they look to put their Champions League exit behind them and qualify for the EL group stages for a fourth consecutive season.
Alashkert warmed up for the fixture with a shock defeat to a club only formed in 2019 but Steven Gerrard won’t be taking the opposition lightly.
He’s likely to name as strong a side as possible and plenty of fans think that Bassey has done enough to get the nod at left-back.
Barisic has been the undisputed first-choice in that position since 2019, with Bassey brought in from Leicester City last summer to provide backup following the departures of Jon Flanagan and Andy Halliday.
However, the Croatian international has struggled for form during the opening weeks of the season and Bassey was outstanding when given an opportunity against Dunfermline in the Premier Sports Cup on Friday night.
The 21-year-old looked solid defensively on the few occasions he was called upon and was excellent in attack, powering up and down the left flank and notching a pair of assists with superb deliveries.
Now, many Bears want to see him rewarded with a start in a higher-profile fixture.
Here’s a selection of comments from fans on Twitter:
Defo Bassey for me and bring back Helander
— RABERTO (@Raberto54085252) August 16, 2021
Definitely!! Barisic when in form is out best left back but we should be playing the form players and right now that is Bassey
— GaryBernard❤️🤍💙 (@GazBernard02) August 17, 2021
100% its upto borna to win his place back.
— Jimmycliff (@TheBlazer20) August 16, 2021
Its a must👏👏
— PaigeMuir🦋💕. (@PaigeeMuirxo) August 16, 2021
Meanwhile, in an apparent transfer blow for Rangers, an Ibrox-linked striker has officially joined a Premier League club.