Michael Beale has midfield questions to answer after Rangers confirmed squad news

Rangers manager Michael Beale is seemingly walking on thin ice after a difficult start to the new season in all competitions.

The Ibrox club have won just two of their four Scottish Premiership matches, losing the other two, one of which was a home defeat to fierce rivals Celtic.

Moreover, it will be Europa League football for Rangers this season after they went crashing out of Champions League qualification at the hands of PSV.

All of that comes after the man in the dugout brought a total of nine new players to the club in the summer transfer window.

They haven’t exactly had the desired effect so far at Ibrox, and their struggles on the pitch will undoubtedly have an impact on Beale’s future if they continue in the coming weeks.

But one issue that the boss will have to shoulder the responsibility for on his own is perhaps his lack of midfield options. Four new forwards were signed in the summer, joined by a goalkeeper, two defenders and two midfielders.

It was perhaps no surprise then for Gers fans to see a long list of forwards in their Europa League group stage squad, which was confirmed by the club on Tuesday (12 September).

Supporters will at the same time have noticed that just four midfielders made the cut, with no room for summer signing Kieran Dowell on the list. His fellow midfielder Jose Cifuentes did make it, alongside Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Nico Raskin.

Beale may argue that the likes of Dujon Sterling, named as a defender, and Tom Lawrence, named as a forward, can jump into a midfield role if needed.

But still, the confirmed squad list will leave many Rangers fans scratching their heads, with plenty of questions to be asked of Beale if things do not go well in Europe.

In other Rangers news, Todd Cantwell has sent a Jude Bellingham message after England defeated Scotland 3-1 on Tuesday.