Sevco took to the skies for a flight to Armenia with a veil of secrecy over who is on the flight- with everyone on board due to be tested by UEFA before tomorrow’s match against Real Alashkert.
According to the Daily Record Steven Gerrard, Michael Beale, Allan McGregor and back-up keeper Jon McLaughlin weren’t on board.
UPDATE: Beale was on the flight
Unusually for the club there has been no images of the players arriving at the airport ahead of their six hour flight to defend a 1-0 lead that will take them into the group phase of the Europa League.
Last night the club announced that there had been positive tests and players forced to self-isolate but it could be no marks like Brandon Barker, Ryan Jack and Nikola Katic.
Social media has been full of speculation with a common list suggesting that Gerrard, McGregor, McLaughlin, Calvin Bassey, Jack Simpson, James Tavernier, Ryan Kent, Fashnio Sakala, Scott Wright and Jermain Defoe were the players involved.
Just before 1pm the Daily Record published:
Steven Gerrard will MISS Rangers’ trip to Armenia for the second leg of their Europa League play-off against Alashkert with his squad also decimated by C*vid.
Gerrard failed to show at Glasgow Airport for the Light Blues lunchtime flight to Western Asia for their crunch clash.
Skipper James Tavernier, Calvin Bassey, Scott Wright and Ryan Kent were also absent along with first and second choice goalkeepers Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin in what is a massive blow in a huge week.
Coach Michael Beale was also nowhere to be seen with Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister set to take the team.
There will also be huge doubts over whether Gerrard will take his place in the dugout at Ibrox for Sunday’s Old Firm clash.
All of the players left behind could be suffering from minor knocks making them available to face Celtic on Sunday.
Those on board the flight to Yerevan face two rounds of UEFA testing within four days of sharing the long journey to and from Dingwall with players that tested positive.
