A section of Rangers fans have taken to Twitter to express their surprise after Joe Worrall was named in the starting XI for their Europa League opener against Villarreal.
Manager Steven Gerrard has made two changes to the side that demolished Dundee last weekend, with Worrall and Kyle Lafferty replacing Nikola Katic and the suspended Alfredo Morelos.
? Your #RangersFC team for tonight's @EuropaLeague match against @VillarrealCF. #UEL pic.twitter.com/kya4UONzet
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) September 20, 2018
Many Rangers fans are shocked that Katic has been omitted for such a tricky encounter and that Worrall’s debut is such a demanding one.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
COMMENTARY:
It’s a big ask for Worrall to slot in for possibly the second toughest match of the season so far, after the trip to Celtic earlier this month. But it is also a statement of faith in the on-loan Nottingham Forest centre-back from Gerrard. The England Under-21 international has been an unused substitute in Rangers’ last two matches, and the manager and his coaching staff have had plenty of time to assess Worrall’s attitude and ability in training. Clearly they think he is up to it, although it would have been a difficult decision to demote Katic, who has formed such an impressive centre-back partnership this season with Connor Goldson, another new arrival this summer. Given that Rangers have been playing competitively since late June, it is high time that one of the two central defenders is given a rest. They are not machines, and that is why Worrall and Gareth McAuley were recruited late in the summer window, to spread the load.
https://twitter.com/stewartdunsmore/status/1042799426270580737
https://twitter.com/andyh1872/status/1042799452199809024
https://twitter.com/StevieC_27/status/1042800058712907778
Worrall starting. Didn't see that coming.
— Paul McCrory (@PaulMcCrory94) September 20, 2018
Katic not starting, everyone freaks out. Calm it and give Worrall a chance. No point losing the head, no one's expecting to win tonight anyway.
— Kieran (@KMCL96) September 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/JG93_/status/1042799778441117696
Very risky putting Worrall in for his debut tonight
— Ross (@rossig93) September 20, 2018
Huge test for Worrall, especially considering who he's up against.
— Tadé (@Greg_1872) September 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/_EG72_/status/1042798370581032960