Kieran Dowell, Ridvan Yilmaz and Leon Balogun left out of Rangers Europa League squad
Rangers have left summer signings Leon Balogun and Kieran Dowell out of their squad for the Europa League group stages due to UEFA homegrown rules, say Football Scotland.
The Nigeria international was one of nine new arrivals at Ibrox this summer as Michael Beale oversaw a rebuild of the squad following several first-team exits.
But Balogun and Dowell have been left out of the squad for the upcoming European campaign, as has left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, as Rangers are unable to name a full 25-man squad due to not having a sufficient number of homegrown players.
“Rangers lack the required amount of home grown players in their squad to name a full 25 man list, with eight of those required to be either club trained or nation trained,” they wrote (12 September).
“At least four have to have come through the academy at Rangers and only backup goalkeepers Robby McCrorie and Kieran Wright qualify for that.
John Souttar, Ryan Jack and Scott Wright all count as nation trained while the likes of Leon King and Adam Devine don’t need registered due to their age.”
Shambles
It’s been a shambles of a season so far at Ibrox and being forced to leave out two senior defenders and two summer signings just shows the lack of organisation at the club.
That area of the pitch is one where we didn’t manage to strengthen in the way we wanted to this summer, with Dujon Sterling and Balogun the only arrivals in defence.
But despite that, Balogun won’t be able to play in Europe now leaving only Connor Goldson and John Souttar as central defensive options that the manager trusts. Leon King was set to leave on loan before a late change of heart, while Ben Davies hasn’t played a single minute yet this season.
As for Yilmaz, the writing seems to be on the wall for his future now with Borna Barisic firmly ahead of him in the pecking order while Sterling seems to be the preferred back-up option.
Beale has to get these decisions right and hopefully he will, but there are more questions than answers as to the state of the squad at the moment.
In other Rangers news, Michael Beale sack decision may already be made after recent social media activity.