Philippe Clement has explained why January signing Rafael Fernandes didn't make Rangers' latest Europa League squad.
The Ibrox club confirmed their 25-man list of players for their upcoming last-16 tie with either FC Twente, Bodo/Glimt, Fenerbache, or Anderlecht yesterday.
To his squad from the league phase of the competition, Clement made three alterations, drafting in Danilo, Ianis Hagi, and Clinton Nsiala at the expense of Oscar Cortes, Kieran Dowell, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.
Managers are allowed to make only a trio of changes, meaning new signing Fernandes, who came in on loan from Lille in January, didn't make the cut, neither did Cortes, who remains on the sidelines.
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Clement explained why the pair weren't included yesterday: "It is difficult to only make three changes to the European squad," he said.
"Rafa Fernandes understood why he wasn't in the European squad and he still has a lot of games to play in the league and the cup - he still has time to grow and develop as he is a young player.
"There have been different injuries with Cortes throughout this time so I hope for him that he won't have as many problems going forward - it has mostly been bad luck. He will still be a few weeks away from training."
Rangers will discover their next European opponents when the last 16 draw is made on Friday, February 21.
The Ibrox club ensured they didn't have to navigate a Europa League knockout stage playoff tie by finishing in the league phase's top eight.
Before the continental scene comes back into Clement's thinking, though, he has a few domestic games to contend with, starting with Queen's Park in the Scottish Cup tomorrow afternoon.
