Beale ditches two of his summer star signings from Europa League squad
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - April 8, 2023 Rangers manager Michael Beale before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Micky Beale has dumped Kieran Dowell and Leon Balogun from his 25 man Europa League squad.
The Ibrox boss looked both players in the eyes last summer before snapping them up for the Revolution! But a month into the season they have been cast aside.
Dowell signed up after his Norwich City contract expired but won’t be joining Todd Cantwell in UEFA’s secondary competition, Balogun was signed as defensive cover but will be watching from the stand with Ben Davies and John Souttar included in the squad.
The imbalance in Beale’s squad has resulted in nine forwards being listed on the UEFA website and just four midfielders.
UEFA’s demand that four club developed and four SFA developed players are included as resulted in Scott Wright, Robbie McCrorie and Kieran Wright, a 25-year-old goalkeeper that has never played a competitive match being in the Europa League squad.
Turkish starlet Ridvan Yilmaz, a £5m signing from Beskitas a year ago has been left out of the squad despite playing in two of last season’s Champions League matches.
Last season’s record breaking Champions League defence is all included, bolstered by former Chelsea star Dujon Sterling.