Rangers’ opponents for next week’s crunch Europa League fixture at Ibrox, Sparta Prague, have been rocked by an injury crisis, according to a Daily Record report.
The Gers haven’t fired yet in Europe this season, but they know that a win over the Czech side by two clear goals would see them through to the knockout stages.
There’s been plenty of upheaval at Ibrox over the past week, with Steven Gerrard and most of his coaching staff leaving for Aston Villa.
Important forward Kemar Roofe also picked up an injury on international duty with Jamaica.
According to the Daily Record, though, Sparta have plenty of problems of their own coming into the match.
Not only are they coming off the back of consecutive European defeats at the hands of Lyon, but they are also said to be dealing with an injury crisis.
Centre-back Ondrej Celustka picked up a knee injury in one of the defeats to Lyon and has reportedly been ruled out for around a month, while Ladislav Krejci is sidelined by a calf injury and isn’t expected to recover in time to travel to Glasgow.
Furthermore, star man Adam Hlozek is said to have picked up a knock and is rated as ‘touch and go’ for the game, while winger Jakub Pesek was forced off during the first half of the Czech Republic’s win over Estonia on Tuesday with an unspecified issue.
If all four of these players miss out, it would be a major boost to Rangers’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for a third successive season.
With Giovanni van Bronckhorst reportedly close to being named manager, there’s sure to be a raucous atmosphere under the lights for what would be his first home match in charge.
