Steven Gerrard could be dangerously short of options at centre-back when Rangers take on Aberdeen at Ibrox in the Premiership next weekend.
That’s after Leon Balogun was taken off 65 minutes into Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone on Friday, reportedly due to an injury concern [Premium Times Nigeria].
The Super Eagles had been cruising but they collapsed dramatically after Balogun’s exit, conceding three times in less than 15 minutes as the game ended 4-4.
Gerrard will be more concerned about the effect a spell on the sidelines for the 32-year-old would have on Rangers, though, with big games against Aberdeen and Benfica coming up.
As things stand, Connor Goldson and Filip Helander are both set to be available after the international break, but if Balogun is not, the Gers may have no other recognised senior centre-back in their matchday squad.
Nikola Katic is a long-term injury absentee, while George Edmundson was recently suspended by the club for an indefinite period and Lewis Mayo is out on loan at Championship side, Dunfermline Athletic.
Calvin Bassey briefly tried his hand at centre-back during pre-season, but the 20-year-old has never played there before in a competitive first-team game.
Therefore, Rangers would be in a vulnerable position should Balogun report back with an issue of note.
Earlier in the week, Steven Davis gave supporters an injury scare by hobbling through the final stages of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 playoff defeat to Slovakia, but he has since been spotted in training ahead of his country’s upcoming fixture against Austria.
