Zak Lovelace could be set for a Rangers promotion after first team bosses pulled rank during his latest B team outing.
The Gers are gearing up to face FCSB in their latest Europa League clash at Ibrox on Thursday night. Philippe Clement could do with a result after a disastrous display away to Kilmarnock on Sunday saw the Light Blues fall even further behind Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the table, despite the two dropping their first points of the season at Parkhead the day before.
And with the older heads not getting it done, Clement looks to be turning to Malky Thomson’s B team stars in order to freshen things up ahead of taking on the Romanians. The Belgian was in attendance at Forthbank on Tuesday night as the second string booked their place in the quarter-finals of the SPFL Trust trophy with a 4-1 win over Stenhousemuir.
Danilo was back amongst the goals as he stepped up his return from injury, although whether he has enough gametime under his belt to feature against FCSB remains to be seen. But it was the withdrawal of Lovelace that could provide a clue as to Clement’s plans for the midweek encounter
He started wide on the left and despite being a standout during the opening 45 minutes, didn’t re-emerge for the second half. Rangers fan site Four Lads had A Dream claim that the initial plan was for Lovelace to play 75 mins, but was subbed at the request of first team management after watching a stellar opening 45.
That suggests that the 18-year-old is in line for at least a place on the bench on Thursday night as Clement looks to refresh his attacking options. Cyriel Dessers was poor in Ayrshire and is now five games without a goal, while Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami either side of him failed to have the desired impact.
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