Filip Helander has lost just six games since signing for Rangers, three in Europe, one against Celtic in the 2019 league cup final that was decided by an offside goal, a Scottish Cup game against St Johnstone where he went off injured before losing on penalties and one league game against Dundee United earlier this season.
In short, he is a hugely important player for us, a key reason behind us breaking records last year and a major factor in us not looking as strong defensively in his absence – Steven Gerrard replacing him with Leon Balogun for the home leg of the Champions League qualifiers against Malmo is still a decision that the former gaffer would want to make again if he was given the chance, especially when you consider the big Swede was one of only a few players to emerge from the first leg with any credit.
Speaking this weak, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has revealed why Helander won’t be involved in the Europa League squad, yet, and how close he is to a return, as reported by The Scotsman:
“It was a hard decision to leave him out of the European squad because we had only 23 players we could put on the list.
“At that time, I chose the players who were fit to play games and also players who can play in different roles. Filip is really close to getting minutes again. Hopefully we can involve him in the weekend so he starts playing and then will also be involved in the squad in the league and the cup competition.
“The only competition he cannot play is in Europe. Once he makes his minutes, he will be back in the squad as well. It’s looking quite positive for him. He will be back playing really soon.”
The timing of his return could be crucial given the way that Balogun had to be replaced in the 13th minute against Hibs, Sod’s law that just as one is coming back, the other breaks down – no wonder we have been linked with the likes of Danilho Doekhi.
Helander’s domestic record really is incredible, it’s just a shame that in each season he has needed surgery for injuries he has sustained, they’ve never been little knocks he could play through either, hopefully, he can stay fit for the rest of this season because, as we’ve seen, his presence on the park brings a calmness that can sometimes be missing in our defence and we need to go on the sort of league run that he has been part of before.