STEVEN GERRARD has challenged his Ibrox wingers to make the most of Ryan Kent’s injury blow and establish themselves in the Rangers attack.
Kent will miss the Europa League clash with Spartak Moscow tonight after sustaining a hamstring injury in the win over St Mirren at the weekend.
He won’t feature against Motherwell on Sunday and will spend the international break trying to get back up to full fitness as he looks to return to action as quickly as possible.
Gerrard will have Daniel Candeias available to start on the right flank in the Spartak Stadium this evening but could now utilise Eros Grezda or Glenn Middleton on the opposite side.
Victory against the Russians would be a huge boost to Rangers’ ambitions of clinching a knockout berth but they will have to take to the field without one of their key attacking threats.
Gerrard said: “Ryan is struggling with a hamstring so that’s a bit of a blow for us. The earliest you will see him is after the international break, that’s if everything goes well.
“It was at the end of the game against St Mirren. He has never had a muscle injury before.
“He wasn’t sure if it was fatigue or if it was a hamstring issue. We’ve had it checked out and it’s an issue, so it’s a big blow for him and us.
“I think someone else will see it as an opportunity for themselves. With the form he has been in and how much he has been growing and improving week by week, it is certainly a blow for us.
“That’s the reason why we have a squad, to have different options in different positions so it will certainly be an opportunity for Grezda, for Glen Middleton, maybe something different that we might try.
“It’s definitely an opportunity for someone else but as a manager, you never want to lose anyone and certainly not someone who is in good form.”
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