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Rangers vs Brondby: Europa League preview, team news, kick-off time

  /  autty

Team news and stats ahead of Rangers vs Brondby in Europa League Group A on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.

Team news

Rangers will assess Ryan Kent's hamstring injury but Steven Gerrard hopeful that the winger can feature. Glen Kamara is suspended following his red card in the defeat to Sparta Prague.

Filip Helander remains out with a knee problem, so Leon Balogun is expected to keep his place alongside Connor Goldson in defence.

Midfielder Ryan Jack is slowly being integrated back into first-team training after recovering from a calf injury, but the 29-year-old is not fit enough to face Brondby.

Steven Davis and Kemar Roofe, who both began on the bench against Hearts, will be hoping they can force their way back into the starting line-up.

As for Brondby, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is suffering with an ankle injury and will miss the trip to Ibrox.

Defender Rasmus Wikstrom remains out with a shoulder problem, while midfielders Mathias Greve and Peter Bjur are unavailable through minor knocks.

Gerrard: Win can kick-start European campaign

Steven Gerrard has no problem with Thursday's Europa League game against Brondby being described as a must-win match for Rangers.

After a 2-0 home defeat to French club Lyon and a 1-0 loss away to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, the Scottish champions are bottom of Group B, one point behind the Danish club ahead of their meeting at Ibrox.

The Gers boss, who will be without suspended Glen Kamara after his sending-off in Prague, was asked if the match fell into the must-win category.

He said: "I don't mind if you put it that way.

"We want to try to win every game here at Rangers, no matter where we are sitting in the table, but having lost the first two games I think it is very important that we win this head-to-head (with Brondby).

"We have to take a minimum of four points, ideally we take six, so tomorrow we need a performance and result that is going to try to kick-start this campaign.

"I don't think our two performances have been miles away, but it is a results business and to get out of the group you need results, we are well aware of that.

"If that adds a little bit more pressure going into tomorrow's game and people on the outside want to make it a must-win game, we are OK with that."

How to follow

Follow Rangers vs Brondby with our dedicated live blog across Sky Sports' digital platforms.

Opta stats

When are the Europa League group stage games?

Matchday 4: November 4 2021
Matchday 5: November 25 2021
Matchday 6: December 9 2021

All the key Europa League dates

Round of 16: March 10 & 17 2022
Quarter-finals: April 7 & 14 2022
Semi-finals: April 28 & May 5 2022
Final: May 18 2022 (Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Seville)