Leon Balogun is playing for his Rangers future after Filip Helander injury
Rangers will be without Swedish international Filip Helander for the rest of this season after he sustained an ankle injury against St Mirren on Sunday.
The 28-year-old hobbled off just moments before halftime in Paisley to be replaced by 18-year-old Leon King and it has been revealed today that he will miss the remainder of the campaign.
The Swede would not have been available for tomorrow evening’s Europa League quarter-final second-leg against Braga anyway having not been registered for the competition.
King is unlikely to start such a big game alongside stalwart Connor Goldson so it appears almost certain that Leon Balogun will partner the Englishman at the heart of the Light Blues defence when the Portuguese side come to Ibrox.
The 33-year-old has played alongside Goldson for much of this season, when he’s been fit, and the two have a very good understanding of each other’s game.
But things aren’t going to be so straightforward against Braga with their pacey and skillful attack likely to cause problems all night long.
Balogun could be playing for his future in Glasgow as at the age of 33, he might not be around for too much longer at the very top level, which is where the Gers aspire to be.
The Nigerian international is starting to look like he can’t keep up with the quickest of players and that speed will surely only diminish over time.
His reading of the game and aerial prowess are still there and the former should remain with him until he hangs up his boots but in the modern game, pace is highly important for a central defender.
van Bronckhorst should still start him on Thursday, and against Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final, but after this potentially season-defining week, he will have his answer as to whether Balogun can be part of his future plans for next season and beyond.
In other Rangers news, King really impressed Andy Halliday when he came on against St Mirren.