Gio given Rangers selection ultimatum by 21-year old

This morning’s big debate is Calvin Bassey v Erling Haaland.

Rangers’ young CB has suggested he wants the opportunity, if the Norwegian plays on Thursday, to face the world’s best striker.

Ok, so Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe would have something to say about that, but Haaland is a force of nature with stats which eclipse both of these luminary peers, so he’s got a strong case for this one.

But this is getting away from the point – does Bassey deserve the chance if Haaland does make it?

Let’s face it, the reality is you need your best players, especially up against someone of the former Salzburg star’s quality, and Bassey, as well as he’s done overall as a CB, isn’t up to the level needed when we look at the overall picture.

Of course, that’s down for Gio to agree or disagree with, but surely few would disagree that Leon Balogun is the superior CB?

With no Filip Helander in this competition, it’s either Balogun or Bassey.

And of course we’ll trust whatever the manager chooses, he didn’t do half bad on Thursday (with mostly a selection we’d picked ourselves, naturally) but on paper and on the pitch, Balogun surely would stand a stronger chance, if he’s fit, to combat Haaland.

In truth, it barely matters – few defenders in the world can stop the 21-year old, so whether it’s Balogun or Bassey, Rangers will have their work cut out regardless.

But all part of the fun, isn’t it…