Breaking News: Bougherra facing a fight to be fit for the next Champions League encounter
Rangers are hopeful that their defender, Bougherra will be fit enough for their upcoming UEFA Champions League tie against Bursaspor. The match against the Turkish club side will be the last UEFA Champions League game for Rangers
in the 2010-2011 season as their chances of progressing to the round of sixteen were permanently dented by Manchester United’s 1-0 win over the Glasgow giants at the Ibrox stadium just two weeks ago.
Bougherra has not played football for Rangers ever since their 2-0 win over Aberdeen in the middle of November. The Algerian stopper has been suffering from a hamstring injury, a fitness issue that has kept him out for over three
weeks now. However, a return to action against Bursaspor for the Algerian national will be a welcome boost for Rangers who can still seal their spot in the Europa league if they finish third in their UEFA Champions’ League group behind Valencia and Manchester
United. Rangers might be without their defender Sasa Papac as well for the Bursaspor tie as he is out with a head injury.
Maurice Edu is also a doubt for the game against Bursaspor for the Scottish giants as the midfielder is out with a leg injury. Ranger’s assistant manager, Ally McCoist told the Scottish media, "Madjid is a lot better, he has been
running and hopefully he'll be available. He'll travel with us to Turkey, hopefully. Mo Edu is coming on nicely as well. I'm the eternal optimist, I would hope Papac and certainly Bougherra will be involved.”
He added, "It might be slightly early for Edu but we will give them every opportunity we can. I would be disappointed if we didn't have one or two involved in the travelling party." Rangers have a long list of injury problems as
defender Andy Webster is also set to miss out due to a hamstring and a groin strain. Andy’s season has been plagued by various injuries thus far. However Ally did reveal some positive news for Rangers fans as he revealed that James Beattie will be fit to participate
in the encounter against Bursaspor.
Ally said, "Beatts has been training with the lads and working very hard outside and in the gymnasium. Beatts has quite enjoyed the intensity of the training to get his fitness back up. Andy is jogging at the moment but he is still
a little bit away. (Fitness coach) Adam Owens has put him on a training programme which he has been sticking to and there has certainly been improvement. He had a little hiccup last week but he is back running again."
Rangers will be hoping to end their UEFA Champions League campaign on a high note as they have clearly not impressed in the group stages. Their most impressive result came in the very first match of the group stages when they achieved
a remarkable draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford in early September.
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