Ibrox star Fashion Sakala has tweeted a stirring message to Rangers fans ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying clash against Malmo.
The Gers lost the first leg 2-1 in Sweden and now know they need to come up with something special to progress to the play-off stage.
However, their chances have been boosted by the return of several first-team players.
Ianis Hagi missed the first leg after picking up an injury in the warm-up and Alfredo Morelos didn’t travel as he was self-isolating in Glasgow.
Additionally, Leon Balogun was suspended, while both the Nigeria international and Fashion Sakala missed Sunday’s Premiership defeat at Dundee United with minor injuries.
However, Steven Gerrard confirmed on Monday morning that all four players are available for the second leg.
“Hagi will return to the squad after coming through a training session today and Leon Balogun is fit and available,” said the manager [RangersTV]. “Obviously, his suspension is up so that’s a big positive as well.”
“Fashion Sakala is fit and will be involved in the squad and obviously Alfredo. We named him in the squad and he wasn’t available for the first game but he will be for this game.
“So, it’s a real positive update, the only ones that are missing are [Nikola] Katic and [Ryan] Jack and the suspensions (Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe).”
Rangers won’t quite be at full strength, then, but things are looking better than they did in Malmo and at the weekend and one of the players set to return to action – Sakala – sent a stirring message to supporters on Twitter on Monday evening.
His tweet included phrases like ‘Forever Ready’ and ‘Ready for the battle’, while he also wrote ‘We are more stronger (sic) with your support’ and ‘We need you from the beginning at IBROX.’
https://twitter.com/fashionjr10/status/1424774921641725960
Sakala will be hoping for a second competitive start at Ibrox and a first in front of a capacity crowd, but it’s perhaps more likely that he’ll be used as a substitute with Alfredo Morelos leading the line from the start.
The club’s record all-time European goalscorer has delivered on big nights in the past in Govan and Gerrard may need him to step up once again.
Meanwhile, Rangers look to have been handed a boost in their reported quest to sign an outstanding 22-year-old.
