Rangers:
Michael Beale’s advice could influence Philippe Clement’s selection call against Sparta Praha
Philippe Clement could benefit from the wise words of his predecessor Michael Beale when naming his Rangers team to face Sparta Prague..
The new Gers coach’s biggest decision concerns left-back, where three players were absent during the trip to the Czech capital..
Borna Barisic sustained an injury last weekend, while Dujon Sterling is also sidelined and Burak Yilmaz is not eligible to play any part.
In a decision that was strange at the time and seems even stranger now, the Turkish full-back was not named in Rangers’ European squad.
That means Clement will likely have to choose between Ben Davies – a left-sided centre-back by trade – and academy graduate Adam Devine.
Selecting the latter would be a gamble when taking into consideration his lack of experience at senior level – understandable given he is just 20 years old.
But Devine stepped up when starting three successive Scottish Premiership games last December as Barisic rested up post-World Cup duties.
Each of those matches ended in victory, as did the 2-1 Scottish League Cup win over Greenock Morton in August – his only appearance this term.
Devine was linked with a move away from Ibrox in the summer [The Scottish Sun, 11 May], but he decided to stay put and fight for his place.
That may well be down to Beale telling the youngster to stay patient and wait for his chance to arrive, as it did last December and as it may have done now.
“The manager has told me I just need to bide my time,” Devine said during the summer transfer window, as quoted by The Scottish Sun [8 June].
“I think age doesn’t matter. If you are good enough to play then you can play.”
Having seemingly rejected the chance to find regular football elsewhere, possibly on the advice of Beale, Devine is clearly ready to step up.
While he may only be 20, the academy is there for exactly this reason: to bring through new talents ready to fill in during times of need.
And should he get the nod against Sparta, you can rest assured that Devine will give his absolute all for the shirt and make supporters proud.
The Belgian manager is heading into his first Europa League clash in charge of the Gers against Sparta Prague without a recognised left-back.
It comes with Rangers having lost Croatian international Borna Barisic to injury and Turkish international Ridvan Yilmaz not being in the Europa League squad.
With versatile full-back Dujon Sterling also out of the clash through injury, Philippe Clement has urged his team to find “solutions” to the issue.
But the Rangers manager has also refused to be drawn into making headline grabbing comments surrounding the club’s Europa League squad.
Philippe Clement refuses to be drawn into Michael Beale criticism
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Philippe Clement had initially explained that a perfect storm of injuries and the Europa League selection had left Rangers short against Sparta Prague.
“We hope to get Borna back before the weekend or maybe next week,” said Clement.
“Of course the timing is really bad because Ridvan is not on this European list, that’s a decision made before my time so I cannot do anything about that.
One journalist smelled blood and asked Philippe Clement if he was “surprised” that Ridvan Yilmaz was left out of the Europa League squad.
But Philippe Clement was savvy enough to talk his way around the question – and address what the reporter was really getting at – by insisting the full focus at Ibrox is on the future.
“Like I said last week, it’s a white page, it’s a new story for all the players,” said Clement.
“Getting their chances; I don’t look back what happened a few weeks ago or a few months ago it’s not important any more.
“Those decisions are made, I don’t know with what information or what ideas, it’s not important.
“I have a lot, a lot of other things to do for the moment, it’s been a very busy week, and I’m focused on the future with this team and not in the past.”
Michael Beale explained at the time that Europa League limitations, injuries and a homegrown imbalance forced his hand with the likes of Kieran Dowell joining Ridvan Yilmaz in missing out on the squad.
As Rangers roll into Prague, Philippe Clement will be looking to pick up where Michael Beale left off and get a strong result against Sparta.
All four sides in Group C are currently without tied on three points after two games and this matchday promises to be a pivotal one in the outcome of the group.
This is how we reckon Rangers will look to cope without having a natural left-back available for the match.
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