Rangers Europa League hero Dujon Sterling has been ruled out of the second leg Round of 16 clash with Benfica at Ibrox.
Rangers will be without the versatile 24-year-old for the match in a sizeable blow following last week’s 2-2 draw in Lisbon.
Dujon Sterling scored his first goal in professional football in the Estadio de Luz, the Ibrox right-back turning up in the six yard box to slot home.
Rangers winger Ross McCausland is also a continuing doubt for the game whilst the news around Ibrox playmaker Todd Cantwell is substantially more positive.
The Ibrox star was spotted back in Europa League training and will be available to be involved in the match in some capacity.
Philippe Clement confirms Dujon Sterling absence
At least this is according to Philippe Clement, who provided a Rangers squad update ahead of the Europa League visit of Benfica at Ibrox.
“Dujon (Sterling) will not be in the selection,” said Clement. “It’s a minor thing but it’s too big a risk to let him play to make it more serious.
“So we will see towards Sunday if it will be possible or not the next couple of days.
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“And Ross McCausland still has problems like you guys saw at Hibs. He came in, he played for some minutes but then he gets more-and-more problems because there is still problem in his calf because of the hard tackle that he get (v Motherwell).
“So he did a small part of the training but afterwards he was out also because we cannot force that too much.”
On Todd Cantwell, Clement said: “He’s ready to play an amount of minutes, what’s always discussed with the medical staff. They give me their idea about that and I follow that already for five months. He’s clearly not ready for 90 minutes, then it’s to decide is it starting, is it not starting, I don’t want to give away too much.”
Rangers to host Benfica in Europa League
Heading into the match with Benfica, Rangers were nursing some 12 injury issues and the problems have not truly begun to relent.
Whilst the return of Todd Cantwell is a welcome sight, losing influential utility man Dujon Sterling represents a real blow.
Throw in the situation with Ross McCausland and suddenly Rangers are heading into the Benfica clash with less talent than before available.
Nonetheless, expectations are rising in Glasgow ahead of the Europa League visit of Benfica and it’s all set up to be another famous Thursday night at Ibrox.