Barry Ferguson revealed Rangers are sweating on the fitness of a number of first-team figures ahead of Thursday’s massive Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao.
Ferguson rested many of his regulars for today’s match at Aberdeen and watched as an unfamiliar line-up came back from two goals down to claim a point thanks to Ianis Hagi’s last-gasp equaliser.
Only two of the team that started the first leg against Bilbao also began at Pittodrie — goalkeeper Liam Kelly and Robin Propper — but Ferguson insisted that was as much to do with injury concerns as giving some players a rest.
Vaclav Cerny, Ridvan Yilmaz, Bailey Rice and Nico Raskin were among those left out of the matchday squad, while others like James Tavernier, John Souttar, Mohamed Diomande and Jefte were named on the bench.
Ferguson admitted he took heart from the way his makeshift team kept going to claim a 96th minute equaliser but said his mood heading to Bilbao would depend on whether he receives good news from the Ibrox medical team or not.
The interim head coach said: ‘I’ll take that spirit but only if in a couple of days I’m going to get good news from the medical staff that I’m going to have another three or four players fit and available. I’ll just need to wait and see.
Barry Ferguson says Rangers are sweating over the fitness of a number of first-team regulars
Ianis Hagi silences the Aberdeen support with his late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie
Liam Kelly was one of only two in the starting line-up who had begun the first leg against Bilbao
‘We’re carrying a lot of injuries. There were a number of players who had to be left behind. There were actually a number of players on the bench that probably I shouldn’t have had on the bench. So I’ve got decisions to make as a manager.
‘I think you can see who wasn’t in the squad. I just need to wait and see their reaction over the next couple of days. But I’m not going to take any chances. You’re never 100 per cent when you play games of football but I need people as close to that because we know how difficult it’s going to be.’
Rangers’ goalless draw in the first leg at home has given them a chance of progressing to the semi-finals. Ferguson warned it would be their most demanding test to date but vowed to give it everything to secure a positive result.
He added: ‘It’s a huge opportunity and I can’t wait. I am excited about going there but I’m also respectful. It’s going to be tough for us. The tie is wide open. The main thing for me last Thursday night was making sure we were still in the tie. And the guys deserved, with that performance, to still be in the tie.
‘It’s a step up (from Rangers’ European games earlier in the season). We need to be bang on the button with our tactics. I already know what way we’re going to approach it and go about it so there’s going to be a bit of work on the training ground. We know there’s a lot of work to be done, but we’ll get there and we’ll be prepared, ready to go on Thursday night.’
