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St. Joseph's vs Rangers; Europa League Qualifying First Round

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St. Joseph's vs Rangers. Europa League Qualifying First Round.

College Cosmos StadiumAttendance2,050.

St. Joseph's 0

    Rangers 4

    • R Jack (50th minute)
    • O Ojo (56th minute)
    • C Goldson (68th minute)
    • A Morelos (77th minute)

    St Joseph's vs Rangers preview: Steven Gerrard welcomes selection headaches ahead of Europa League qualifier

    Follow coverage of St Joseph's vs Rangers in Europa League qualifying on our live blog from 4pm on Tuesday, kick-off 4.55pm

    Steven Gerrard
    Image: Steven Gerrard's side begin their Europa League qualifying campaign on Tuesday

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard admits his summer arrivals have given him some positive selection headaches ahead of their European opener.

    Greg Stewart, Sheyi Ojo, Joe Aribo, Jake Hastie, Jordan Jones and George Edmundson impressed in the 5-0 friendly win over Oxford on Sunday and are all vying for competitive debuts.

    Gerrard has left experienced players out of his Europa League squad for the first qualifying round, such as Daniel Candeias, because of UEFA limits around numbers and homegrown players.

    Sheyi Ojo scores in Rangers' friendly win over Oxford
    Image: Sheyi Ojo scores in Rangers' friendly win over Oxford

    Gerrard will continue to pore over his team selection ahead of the first leg against St Joseph's in Gibraltar on Tuesday.

    "I thought in the main they were all very positive with their debuts. A lot of them are here with us and should play some part," Gerrard said on the club's website. "We are very pleased with not just Sunday's performance, but how they have all settled in really quickly.

    "Andy [Halliday] and I were speaking in the car on the way here about how they have started very strongly, and straight away they have given me big decisions to make.

    Daniel Candeias
    Image: Daniel Candeias will not feature for Rangers on Tuesday

    "As the weeks go by, sometimes I'm going to have to make big calls and leave big players out who are good players. But, we are hoping this is going to be a 60-game season."

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    Candeias scored on Sunday and made 52 appearances last season and Gerrard reassured the Portuguese winger he still has a role.

    "It's just a numbers game," he said. "You can swap and change - I'm not going to make a big thing of it. It is just the way it is when you have big numbers, big squads, big players and competition for places.

    Greg Stewart, Joe Aribo, Jake Hastie
    Image: Greg Stewart, Jake Hastie and Joe Aribo all played for Rangers against Oxford at the weekend

    "It is only normal from week to week that it changes on who is in and who is out. Daniel is a good player who played a lot of games for me last year and I predict the same could happen again this year.

    "I wouldn't be surprised if he is involved in the competition in the next round if we are to progress."

    Alfredo Morelos travelled after missing the Oxford clash with a groin strain.

    Alfredo Morelos
    Image: Alfredo Morelos has travelled with the Rangers squad

    Gerrard said: "I think we have to think about where he is at - he has missed probably a week now and he only played probably 20 or 25 minutes against Mansfield, so this would be his second game and we will have to be careful with him."

    Full-back Jon Flanagan is missing after undergoing hernia surgery which will sideline him for about three weeks, while Jamie Murphy will face Ayr in a friendly on Tuesday as he works his way back from a serious knee injury.

    Midfielder Scott Arfield will not feature in Gibraltar having just returned following international duty with Canada.

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