Rangers star back in training after two months out amid Europa League flight mystery
11/27/2024 11:40 AM
The Rangers team are off to France as Philippe Clement and his under pressure squad prepare to face OGC Nice in the Europa League.
And the under-fire Rangers manager could use all the help he can get as he faces the thankless task of a no-win scenario in the south of France.
With Rangers 11 points adrift in the Scottish Premiership, the Europa League might be welcome respite for the Belgian but fans are baying for blood back home in Scotland.
Although images of one long-term absentee back amongst his teammates have raised spirits amongst an Ibrox support increasingly devoid of it.
Oscar Cortes returns to Rangers training
The signing of Colombian winger Oscar Cortes has been a source of criticism for Rangers this season.
The 20-year-old attacker joined the club on loan from RC Lens last January only to have his first six months in Glasgow cut short by a serious injury.
With Rangers extending the deal in the summer – and promising to pay £4m next season – Cortes has suffered three back-to-back injury problems this season.
Nils Koppen insists big things are still expected of Oscar Cortes even if no-one at Rangers could have foreseen the winger's injury problems.
Having not been seen since the Premier Sports Cup clash with Dundee in September, Cortes has been snapped in Rangers training ahead of the trip to Nice.
But but going by the images of the Rangers team boarding the flight to France, the game in Nice may well have come too soon for the Colombiano.
Colombian's teammate boards Europa League flight
Rangers have also shared some images of the Ibrox team boarding the flight to France ahead of the Europa League clash.
Whilst Gers fans were scouring the post for images of Oscar Cortes, the winger is nowhere to be seen even if the returning Ridvan Yilmaz has travelled to France.
The Turkish international, 23, made his return to the team with his first game since August in the 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Dundee United at the weekend.
Whilst we'll await an injury update on Oscar Cortes from Philippe Clement, the winger is back in training but doesn't appear part of the travelling party to Nice.
Rangers will hope to continue their strong Europa League form against OGC Nice, who are currently 5th in Ligue 1 but without a win in Europe this season.
With Rangers 10th in the revamped Europa League group stage, Nice find themselves languishing in 31st place with only two points taken from their opening four matches.
