Boost for Michael Beale as Ben Davies spotted in training stepping up Rangers comeback
Michael Beale has been handed a boost after Ben Davies was spotted training for Rangers by Sky Sports on Monday.
The centre-back has yet to feature for the Gers this season due to a problem picked up at the end of last season, but Sky presenter Mark Benstead pointed out he was at the session with his team-mates ahead of the second leg of the Gers’ third round of qualifying tie with Servette for the Champions League.
Davies is unable to play in that game as Michael Beale did not register him for the tie, which Rangers lead 2-1 from the first leg and pay the second contest in Geneva on Tuesday (15 August).
Benstead said: “And also one sign of encouragement for Rangers in the longer term is that Ben Davies is involved in this session.
“He’s been out injured of late, he was expected to be back tomorrow but was able to take part today. He can’t play in this qualifier he wasn’t registered because of that injury problem but it’ll mean he’ll be available moving forward and that’s a good sign for manager Michael Beale.”
Good news
Ben Davies was absent for the shock opening-game defeat at Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership, as well as the first Servette fixture and the 4-0 rout of Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday (12 August).
But the sight of the centre-back training in his team-mates will be a boost to Rangers and their supporters ahead of a crucial period, which will hopefully include another round of qualifying to make the Champions League proper.
Davies made 27 Scottish Premiership appearances last term, including 25 as a starter and his experience will be a big boost at a time Beale is still integrating nine new signings into his Rangers squad.
Conor Goldson and Ryan Jack also trained having sat out against Livingston, probably with one eye on this huge encounter against Servette.
The fixture in Switzerland is already a massive one for Rangers, who will want another crack at Europe’s premier competition after losing all six of their group-stage matches under Giovani van Bronckhorst last term.
In other Rangers news, Jose Cifuentes was named in Chris Sutton’s team of the week.