Rangers manager Philippe Clement has provided a squad update ahead of the Ibrox side’s Europa League clash v Tottenham Hotspur.
The build-up to the match has been dominated by talk of Spurs’ injury problems, with the Premier League outfit having a number of high-profile absentees.
But the Rangers manager has also confirmed the Gers players who will be missing for the clash against Tottenham at Ibrox.
By the same token, Philippe Clement has been talking about those players who are available for the monumental Europa League clash.
And it’s good news for one Ibrox talent who hasn’t been seen for the last three months after a season so far defined by injury issues.
Oscar Cortes to return v Spurs
Colombian winger Oscar Cortes is available to return to the Rangers squad for the clash against Spurs.
The 21-year-old hasn’t been seen since the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Dundee in September.
It’s been a rocky season in general injury-wise for Cortes, who has only made three appearances this season.
“(Neraysho Kasanwirjo) is of course out, you all know,” Clement told a pre-match press conference.
“And Tom Lawrence will also be out for the game.
“Rabbi Matondo is training with the team, but not fit enough yet to be in a squad.
”Oscar Cortes is coming closer, but that’s for a few minutes then. Not for too long, but he is available for a squad.”
Rangers manager’s Spurs XI will have Celtic in mind
Philippe Clement has also been talking about who he will select for his Rangers team ahead of the Europa League clash with Spurs.
The likes of Danilo and Ianis Hagi cannot play in the game as they are not registered for Rangers’ European squad.
With Rangers set to face Celtic at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup Final on Sunday, the Belgian also has one eye on that bumper clash in Glasgow.
Reluctantly, Clement admits that he will have one eye on the Celtic game with his selection against Spurs.
The Hampden final v Celtic will be played little over 60 hours after the final whistle blows against Tottenham Hotspur at Ibrox.
Nonetheless, Philippe Clement insists it will be a test of the strength in depth of his squad at Rangers with the full focus on Spurs in the Europa League.
“If we would have played today or yesterday, it would have been different,” said Clement.
“Now it’s a really short term in between the games. Yeah, I need to make different changes.
”This is also a really good test in the depth of our squad, in that way.
“And if we want to perform in four competitions, we need good depth in the squad to make these rotations.
“So that’s what you need as a manager at Rangers, at a club like Rangers, to have enough depth to do it every three days and to perform in every competition in that way.”
