Rangers supporters will have to wait a little longer to see new signing Vanja Dragojevic in action after the Serbian midfielder was left out of the matchday squad to face West Ham United at Ibrox.
With kick-off approaching at 4:00 PM, fans scanning the official team sheet noted the prominent absence of the 20-year-old anchor man, who arrived in Glasgow as the club’s latest addition last week.
However, his omission is purely down to red tape rather than any fitness concern.
Everything you need to know about the Rangers vs West Ham friendly…
How do you see this one going?
Visa red tape holds up Ibrox debut
Writing on X ahead of the match, Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack revealed the exact reason behind Dragojevic missing out.
Jack wrote: “Vanja Dragojevic is still waiting on visa clearance, so doesn’t make the Rangers squad vs West Ham.”
Because the formal UK work permit and visa application process remains ongoing following his transfer from FK Partizan, Dragojevic is legally unable to feature for the Gers in any fixture until final clearance is granted by government authorities.
Once the remaining paperwork clears, the Serbia international will be integrated into matchday operations as Rangers prepare for the upcoming campaign.
There is a lot of excitement around Dragojevic after he rejected interest from six clubs, including Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt, to join Rangers, as we revealed exclusively on Sunday.
Dragojevic faces race against time to feature in Rangers season opener
With Derek McInnes facing Dundee United at Tannadice in their Premiership opener on 31 July, Dragojevic faces a race against time to feature in that fixture.
Once the visa formalities are finalised, the Serbian would have to link up with the rest of the Gers squad and get up to speed, before being considered for a starting role in the lineup.
What are your expectations for Vanja Dragojevic at Rangers?
He brings captaincy credentials to Ibrox…
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Dujon Sterling is wearing the armband for Rangers ahead of Ben Godfrey, who led the side in the 2-1 win against AS Saint-Etienne.
It appears McInnes is still experimenting with his captaincy candidates before zeroing in on a winner.
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