Steven Davis, the temporary manager at Ibrox, has an unexpected opportunity as Rangers get ready to play AEL Limassol.
Although the legendary manager of Rangers has been coy about the idea that he might take the open manager’s position full time, let’s be clear: he very likely won’t. However, the Ulsterman has a real chance to at the very least establish his credentials as he pursues his Ibrox dreams.
A Rangers Hall of Famer and one of the most respected figures in the club’s modern history, it’s Steven Davis who will lead the side v AEL Limassol in a match that the 38-year-old will always remember.
The preparations for the Europa League trip to Cyprus have been far from ideal given Rangers go into the match off the back of Michael Beale’s sacking.
But the onus will be on the makeshift management team to take three points from the weakest team in Rangers’ Europa League group and build on what was largely a surprise home victory against Real Betis.
A positive result in this match will prime the double header with Sparta Prague perfectly and whilst no-one will blame Steven Davis if it goes wrong, we’re sure the Rangers icon will be doing everything in his power to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Nicolas Raskin and Kemar Roofe being on the airplane to play AEL Limassol gave Rangers a lift before the game.
The fact that Ryan Jack will not be playing, though, means that a depleted Ibrox midfield will likely need to use the Belgian.
Ridvan Yilmaz, a Europa League squad absentee, will be replaced by Croatian international Borna Barisic as the only other alteration from the catastrophic defeat over the weekend.
AEL Limassol v Rangers (Europa League) – predicted XI (4-3-2-1)
GK – Jack Butland
DR – James Tavernier
DC – Connor Goldson
DC – Ben Davies
DL – Borna Barisic
CM – John Lundstram
CM – Jose Cifuentes
CM – Nicolas Raskin
RF – Sam Lammers
LF – Abdallah Sima
ST – Cyriel Dessers
Where to watch Rangers’ Europa League clash in Cyprus
Rangers’ match with AEL Limassol is set to kick off at the earlier time of 17:45GMT with the clash taking place at the Alphamega Stadium in Kolossi, Cyprus.
The match will be shown live by broadcaster TNT Sport with coverage of the match starting at 17:00GMT on TNT Sport 3.
