Despite already securing qualification, it doesn’t look as though Steven Gerrard will be putting out a reserve team against Lech Poznan, however, with the Polish side already out, there is good news for the Rangers gaffer.
Speaking as part of the pre-match build up Gerrard gave an update on his squad with a couple of his key men expected to return, as reported by the Glasgow Times:
“I need to do the right thing for the squad. So let’s see how we recover from here.
“I’m hoping to have Ryan Jack back and available, I’m hoping Filip Helander will be available again. I’m hoping they will both play some part.
“But it’s a tough situation for me because, yes, of course we want to top the group and it will be important. But at the same time, Dundee United is such a big fixture.
“There won’t be wholesale changes. It won’t be a case of changing eight or nine.
“There will be subtle changes within it. I’ll try and pick a team to get the job done while protecting the big picture as well.”
However, Gerrard may have his mind changed about what sort of team to send out after seeing Dariusz Zuraw’s comments that his Poznan side won’t be at full strength, given their own title aspirations:
“Against Rangers, it’s very likely we will do the same thing and rest more players. Yes, the Europa League is important, but we are out and there are many other matches.
“Our aim is to challenge for the title and we need the players fresh later in the season.”
If Rangers win, we top the group based on our head-to-head record against Benfica, it maybe doesn’t make a huge difference with regards to the draw but there is certainly a decent financial gain to be made in beating Poznan and progressing as winners.
We have rotated the squad well this season and with players like Ianis Hagi, Bongani Zungu, Cedric Itten and Filip Helander likely to come in, we can rest our key players for the weekend trip to Dundee United without seeing a drop in quality, another three points and maintaining the winning run would be the perfect way to finish what has been a near perfect Europa League campaign.