DAN WON’T BE LAST TO FACE AXE
ST JOSEPH’S v RANGERS
FROM BACK PAGE homegrown kids. The former Benfica star played 50 times for the Light Blues last season and was sent off in a Europa League group stage tie against Villarreal, but Gerrard confirmed he was free of suspension.
The Gers boss, who used a line from Donald Trump to dismiss reports linking him with a move to Newcastle, has called on Candeias to prove he has the bottle to bounce back.
Gerrard said: “He’s not suspended or injured, it’s just a numbers game.
“I’m not going to make a big thing of it, it’s just the way it is. We have big numbers and squads and big players and competition for places. Daniel has been left out of this squad but he won’t be the first and he won’t be the last big name to be left out.
“As the weeks go by I’ll have to make big calls and leave out big players, who are good players, but we hope it’s going to be a 60-game season.
“It’s only normal from week to week that there are changes, who is in and who is out. Daniel is a good player, he played a lot of games for me last year.
“The same could happen this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is involved in the competition in the next round if we progress.
“How did he react? Knowing the player, there is always disappointment. I would be more concerned if there wasn’t. However, you also expect a level of professionalism where you get on with it, fight for the jersey and your place.
Rangers arrived 90 minutes late into Gibraltar on a charter jet after fuelling delays at Glasgow Airport and it cost the squad a look at the plastic pitch at Victoria Stadium.
They headed for their hotel base instead, but Gerrard is not concerned about the artificial surface as he bids to emulate last season’s march through four qualifying rounds and into the group stages.
He said: “The experience of last season should stand us in good stead. It raises expectations but if you’re not prepared to deal with expectations at Rangers you’re in the wrong place.
“The pitch causes us no concerns. My players should be used to artificial surfaces given the amount of times we played on them last year.
“We have seen the two games St Joseph’s have played in the competition so far. They will be welldrilled. We will have to play well to get a result.”
Alfredo Morelos travelled after overcoming a niggling groin injury that kept him out of Sunday’s 5-0 friendly win over Oxford but will probably settle for a place on the bench.
Gerrard swatted aside reports linking him with a move to Newcastle as replacement for mentor Rafa Benitez and said: “Fake news. Not that I’m aware of.”
Rangers defender Andy Halliday knows defeat against St Joseph’s over two legs is inconceivable after suffering European ignominy against Progres Niederkorn two years ago.
He said: “We all saw the repercussions of that. We will have to bring our ‘A’ game to this tie.”