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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

Kris Boyd makes Aaron Ramey Rangers return hint as Ibrox hero picks out his team for RB Leipzig showdown

Kris Boyd makes Aaron Ramey Rangers return hint as Ibrox hero picks out his team for RB Leipzig showdown

Kris Boyd is not expecting huge changes tonight as Rangers face off against RB Leipzig in the Europa League semi-final return leg at Ibrox.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team are currently a goal down in the tie, but they will be confident of a turnaround with a full crowd behind them.

Speaking on Sky Sports this morning, Boyd was quizzed on how Rangers would line up against the Germans.

He explained: "Alfredo (Morelos) has been out for a few weeks and he has been a big miss, but for me Kemar Roofe has been an even bigger miss.

"When Alfredo got injured Kemar Roofe came in, so they've not really got an out and out striker. Fashion Sakala has played that role but it's not really worked for him especially in Europe.

"I would imagine it would be something similar to the line-up that finished in Leipzig. I would expect Joe Aribo to come in up front and be that target man. When he came in the ball stuck to him and Rangers were able to get forward.

"I think Ramsey is back in training, I'm not quite sure where Roofe is at.

"He can come in and cover for Morelos, but there is no one to cover them when they are both out."

Meanwhile, Rangers captain James Tavernier hopes a packed Ibrox can unnerve RB Leipzig.

Tavernier believes a raucous home crowd on a European night in Govan can help the Gers get off to a flyer, as they did against Braga in the previous round when he scored an early goal as Rangers came back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat to win 3-2 on aggregate after extra time.

The full-back said: “I hope our atmosphere can affect them.

“You saw the Braga game when we got an early goal and that really kicked us on.

“We’d obviously like to replicate that with an early goal and really get after them.

“We have seen really good teams come to Ibrox and struggle sometimes. I hope that is the case tomorrow night.

“As a team, we just have to try and make it as hard as possible and do everything we can to get the right result and limit their chances, because we obviously know they are going to be a threat.

“I think there will maybe be a little bit of nerves, but we are playing at home in front of 50,000 fans.

“It’s another good team being put in front of us. Another team of 11 players.

“The boys will soak it up. We know the fans will be right behind us. That’s what we want and that’s what we’ll need.

“All we can do is give it our best, give it our all and leave everything on that pitch to have no regrets.

“If we do that then we have every fighting chance to get into a final.”

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