Rangers have been ‘boosted’ (if that is the correct word applicable in all cases) by the presence at training of out-of-favour striker Umar Sadiq and previously-injured defender Gareth McAuley.

The Nigerian has had a lot said about him both by his manager, sites like this and the media at large, but the on-loan Roma man was at the Hummel Training Centre today as part of the possible squad to face Rapid on Thursday.

Manager Steven Gerrard will also welcome back star striker Alfredo Morelos following his suspension against Villarreal, meaning Sadiq probably won’t make the bench, but his presence at training is at least a step in the right direction to hopefully fix the lad’s focus.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s McAuley is available again following injury problems – the veteran defender was AWOL following international duty but has regained fitness in time for the visit of the Austrians albeit is probably not quite ready for first-team affairs yet, but is certainly an option for Gerrard.

However we’d certainly expect Nikola Katic to return in defence regardless of the bench options.