Ibrox View: Gerrard should drop 27y/o in favour of impressive international v Benfica
Rangers face Benfica on Thursday in a crucial Europa League meeting that could decide which team ends up topping group D.
When they met in Lisbon before the international break the match finished 3-3, but Steven Gerrard’s side know they should have come away with all three points.
On the day, Filip Helander endured a difficult evening, making mistakes for all three of Benfica’s goals and Leon Balogun has done enough since to start ahead of him at Ibrox on Thursday.
Helander has not pulled on a Rangers shirt since that night in Portugal, with Balogun selected from the start alongside Connor Goldson at centre-back against both Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen. The Gers were not particularly tested defensively in either match, but nonetheless Balogun was a calm and confident figure at the heart of the back four on both occasion.
Against Aberdeen he saw plenty of the ball, with only Goldson, Scott Arfield and James Tavernier having more touches than the Nigerian international. He used the ball well too, completing 63 passes and winning two aerial duels (via WhoScored). The Dons managed just seven shots across the 90 minutes and only three on target, and that is testament to the control that Balogun helped his side exert.
Going forward Helander remains a good option and is a much better player than he showed against Benfica. However, Balogun is now in possession of the jersey and provided there are no concerns about his fitness, given his international exploits, he deserves the opportunity to continue.
The 32-year-old has shown in the past that he can deliver at Europa League level, playing 90 minutes in clean sheets against both Standard Liege and Lech Poznan. Having arrived at Ibrox over the summer, a start against Benfica would definitely be his most significant appearance for the club so far. However, he has earned his opportunity and there is nothing to suggest he cannot make the step up successfully.
In other Rangers news, why the Gers should not sign 28-year-old Scotland international