Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has been handed a big blow for the club’s Europa League qualifying clash against Shkupi in Macedonia with Scott Arfield missing from the travelling squad through injury, according to the Daily Record.
The newspaper claim on their website that after having limped off in the first leg tie, which the Gers won 2-0, the summer signing, who is a key member of Gerrard’s squad, has not recovered in time for the second leg, and has been left in Glasgow while his team mates head off on their travels.
There will be hopes that the 29-year-old’s layoff is not serious, and that he will be back in action for the club’s future clashes in Europe.
Opinion
Losing Arfield is a big blow for Gerrard’s hopes, but the Gers, with their 2-0 lead from the clash at Ibrox last week, should have enough in their tank to make their way past their Macedonian opposition and into the next round of qualifying. The former Burnley man is expected to be a crucial part of the Light Blues’ success this season after what many considered a coup of a capture, the 29-year-old joining up at Ibrox on a free transfer. His quality and experience from the Premier League leaves him a cut above many not only in the Rangers squad but across Scotland as a whole, and many would argue that he has taken a step down to move to Glasgow and help the club hit their former heights. Can he do the business against Celtic? If he stays fit and in form, then he is worthy competition for the Hoops, and the first Old Firm derby of the season should be a tasty clash. For now though, Arfield just needs to make sure he stays fit, and recover from whatever knock has kept him out of the Shkupi tie.