Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed the exit of Calvin Bassey, and a further injury setback for Filip Helander.

The Rangers manager, preparing for tomorrow’s friendly with West Ham and the potential integration of more signings, spoke after the win in Blackpool, explaining that Bassey was indeed leaving, and that Helander, exactly as we reported to you some days ago, had suffered yet another setback and had confirmed himself that he had had to stop training due to pain.

It’s a blow for the boss who may have just added new signing Ben Davies, subject to completion, to the roster, but is now a bit thin at the back with just Goldson, Souttar, Davies and Katic available as senior stoppers, unless we count King and Simpson.

It’s not the strongest pool if we’re honest, and Souttar’s fitness is unreliable – Davies is similar to the departed Bassey in that he is capable at both LB and CB but his main position is CB.

But this is now Gio’s team – the Gerrard era is a distant memory, and even the UEL squad is evolving into something new.

But Helander’s injury and Bassey’s exit not to mention Balogun two months ago have left the rearguard a little thinner than we’d like.

Hopefully another body or two will arrive soon.