Rangers confirmed starting XI vs Ferencvaros: 2 enforced changes as Danny Rohl opts for change of shape with threadbare squad
Danny Rohl has named his starting line-up to face the Hungarian champions for their latest Europa league outing in Budapest
Danny Rohl has named his Rangers starting XI to face high-flying Ferencvaros in their must-win Europa League encounter at the Groupama Arena in Budapest (5.45pm BST).
The Ibrox side have travelled to the Hungarian capital aiming to keep their slim hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive, having claimed just one point from their first five league phase outings.
Despite their Euro woes, the Light Blues have tasted defeat just once since the former Sheffield Wednesday boss took the reins in Glasgow. They will have to produce another huge performance to overcome an in-form Ferencvaros side, who have yet to lose in the competition this season under the management of ex-Celtic star Robbie Keane.
Team news: Captain restored & change in attack
Rohl has made TWO enforced changes to his injury-hit Rangers team from the side that thrashed Kilmarnock 3-0 at Rugby Park on Saturday night, restoring skipper James Tavernier and Danilo for Mohamed Diomande (suspended) and Nedim Bajrami (injured) as part of a formation change from 4-2-3-1 to 5-2-3.
John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Oliver Antman, Bailey Rice and Rabbi Matondo are all still sidelined, while Joe Rothwell hasn’t travelled with the squad. Lyall Cameron is only fit enough for a place on the bench having been a major pre-match doubt. Dujon Sterling returns to the matchday squad after sitting out of the weekend’s match as a precaution due to the artificial surface.
What has Max Aarons said pre-match?
“It is going to take a big performance, we are going to need bits from the game on Saturday, the confidence and also, we are going to need to be strong defensively as well.
“There are parts of that Braga performance in the first half that I thought we looked solid defensively, and we need to build on that, but equally, we need to be creating a lot as a team.
“As I have found since coming here, you have to be nothing less than 100 per cent to get results in Europe, and that is what we are going to need tomorrow.
“Since the new manager has come in, it has been great and I feel really confident. I feel like I am building in a good direction, especially my own performances, but I am still looking to push and improve as well.
“When he came in, he looked at some of my games from the start of the season and told me the areas he wanted me to play in more in terms of going forward and attacking. He kind of simplified how to get the best out of me, and I can feel that when we are speaking and that trust that he has.”
Here's your confirmed starting XI’s ahead of this evening’s clash in the Hungarian capital...
Ferencvaros XI:
David Grof; Toon Raemaekers, Ibrahim Cisse (C), Gabor Szalai, Cebrails Makreckis, Alex Toth, Gabi Kanichowsky, Bence Otvos, Callum O’Dowda, Bamidele Yusuf, Barnabas Varga.
SUBS: Daniel Radnoti (GK), Aleksandar Pesic, Jonathan Levi, Kristoffer Zachariassen, Cadu, Zsombor Gruber, Golik, Julio Romao, Csongor Lakatos, Adam Madarasz, Lenny Joseph, Barnabas Nagy.
Rangers XI:
Jack Butland; James Tavernier (C), Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Jayden Meghoma, Max Aarons, Nicolas Raskin, Connor Barron, Danilo, Djeidi Gassama, Bojan Miovski.