RANGER’S CONFERENCE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SQUAD LEAKED — 3 KEY STARTERS LEFT OUT AS SHOCK EXIT LOOMS
**Rangers’ Conference League Play-Off Squad Confirmed: New Full-Backs In, Notable Omissions, and High Stakes Against Jablonec**
Rangers stand at a pivotal moment in their 2026-27 European campaign. After a dispiriting exit from the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok, Derek McInnes’s side must now navigate the UEFA Conference League play-off round against Czech outfit FK Jablonec. The first leg takes place at Ibrox on Thursday, 20 August 2026, with the return fixture in the Czech Republic a week later. Qualification for the league phase is the minimum requirement for a club of Rangers’ stature and resources; failure would represent a significant setback both financially and in terms of prestige.
Recent days have brought confirmation of the European squad list, complete with late adjustments that allow the inclusion of two newly arrived full-backs. While the list itself is largely as expected, the continued absence of certain experienced figures and the impact of injuries have fuelled discussion among supporters about the depth and balance of the group available to McInnes.
### Context: A Difficult Start Under McInnes
Derek McInnes arrived at Ibrox in the summer of 2026 after a strong spell at Hearts, tasked with restoring stability and ambition following turbulent previous seasons. The early results, however, have been challenging. Rangers drew 1-1 at Dundee United on the opening day of the Premiership, lost 2-1 at home to Hibernian, and then suffered a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok in the Europa League third qualifying round (1-2 away, 1-1 at home). The European exit prompted audible frustration from the Ibrox support.
A thumping 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup last-16 on 16 August provided the first win of McInnes’s tenure and a much-needed lift. Goals from Ryan Naderi, Vanja Dragojević, Djeidi Gassama, debutant James Penrice and substitute Ross McCausland demonstrated attacking potential when the side clicks. That result has given the squad confidence heading into the Conference League ties, yet the broader picture remains one of a team still finding its identity and cohesion after significant summer recruitment.
### The Squad List: New Arrivals Strengthened the Defensive Options
UEFA regulations require clubs to submit a List A of up to 25 senior players, with specific requirements around locally trained players, supplemented by a B-list of eligible younger or home-grown talent. Rangers initially submitted a 23-player List A, leaving room to register recent arrivals without forcing others off the list.
The confirmed updated squad is as follows:
**Goalkeepers:** Ivor Pandur, Liam Kelly, Mason Munn
**Defenders:** Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, Kosta Nedeljković, Clinton Nsiala, Dujon Sterling, Olwethu Makhanya, James Penrice, Emmanuel Fernandez
**Midfielders:** Dan Neil, Connor Barron, Thelo Aasgaard, Cammy Devlin, Lyall Cameron, Daisuke Yokota, Vanja Dragojević, Tochi Chukwuani, Nico Raskin, Djeidi Gassama
**Forwards:** Lawrence Shankland, Ryan Naderi, Bojan Miovski, Ross McCausland
Notable names available via the B-list include Scotland international Findlay Curtis along with other academy prospects such as Aiden McCallion, Lewis Stewart and Kyle Glasgow.
The key late additions are the two full-backs. James Penrice, signed on loan from AEK Athens, made an impressive debut in the St Mirren win, scoring and assisting. Kosta Nedeljković, a 20-year-old Serbian international arriving on loan from Aston Villa (with a conditional obligation to buy), completed his move just before the final registration deadline. Both have been successfully registered, bolstering options on either flank. McInnes had indicated confidence that Penrice would be included and that every effort was being made for Nedeljković.
These inclusions address a clear need. Left-back Tuur Rommens is sidelined with a groin issue that could keep him out for several weeks, while the right-back position has seen rotation. The new arrivals give McInnes greater tactical flexibility and attacking thrust from the wide defensive areas.
### Notable Omissions and Injury Concerns
The most discussed absence remains that of Scotland international centre-back John Souttar. The defender has been consistently overlooked under McInnes and is widely expected to leave the club before the transfer window closes. Interest from clubs in England has been reported, and his non-inclusion in the European list aligns with the manager’s clear preference for other options in central defence, including Ben Godfrey (when fit), Emmanuel Fernandez, Olwethu Makhanya and Ross McCrorie.
Injuries have further depleted the group. Striker Youssef Chermiti suffered a serious ACL injury and is expected to miss a large portion of the season. Jose Cifuentes is also unavailable. Ben Godfrey, who injured himself on his debut against Dundee United, has been registered and is progressing, but McInnes has suggested the second leg against Jablonec may be a more realistic target for his return rather than the first leg.
These absences mean the attacking burden falls heavily on captain Lawrence Shankland, Ryan Naderi, Bojan Miovski and Ross McCausland, with creative support from the midfield and wide players. Shankland’s form and selection will be closely watched; he scored a penalty against Jagiellonia but has not yet fully settled into the role many hoped he would fill after his arrival.
### Tactical Choices and Selection Dilemmas
McInnes faces several decisions for the first leg. The St Mirren performance featured a midfield trio of Tochi Chukwuani, Nico Raskin and Vanja Dragojević that functioned effectively, while Thelo Aasgaard returns from suspension. Whether the manager sticks with a winning formula or reintegrates more of the “first-choice” names remains to be seen. In attack, the choice between Naderi (who scored against St Mirren) and Shankland as the central striker is one of the more interesting talking points.
Defensively, the new full-backs could both start. Nedeljković’s attacking profile and pre-season minutes with Aston Villa make a rapid debut plausible, while Penrice’s energetic display at the weekend strengthens his claim. The centre-back pairing is likely to involve some combination of Fernandez, Makhanya and McCrorie, with Godfrey still building fitness.
### The Opponent: Jablonec Arrive in Strong Form
FK Jablonec present a dangerous challenge. The Czech side finished fifth in their domestic league last season and have started the new campaign impressively, sitting high in the table with a perfect early record. They progressed past RFS of Latvia with a comfortable 4-1 aggregate score and arrive at Ibrox on a strong run of results across competitions.
Manager Luboš Kozel’s team are organised, physically robust and capable of exploiting transitions. Striker Jan Chramosta has publicly noted that Jablonec have studied Rangers’ recent games and believe they can target certain weaknesses, pointing to the fact that Jagiellonia had already shown the Scottish side could be beaten over two legs. An away goal or a tight first-leg result would leave the tie finely balanced heading into the return in Jablonec nad Nisou, where the home side have been difficult to beat.
### Stakes and Outlook
For Rangers, progression is essential. The Conference League league phase offers meaningful European football, additional revenue, and the chance to rebuild momentum after a rocky start. Elimination would leave McInnes’s side focusing solely on domestic competitions while rivals continue on the continental stage, amplifying pressure on a squad still integrating numerous summer arrivals.
The late registration of Penrice and Nedeljković provides a tangible boost and demonstrates the club’s ability to act quickly within UEFA deadlines. The omission of Souttar, while unsurprising given the manager’s stance, underscores the clear-out of certain senior figures. Injuries to Chermiti and others have limited options, yet the 5-1 win over St Mirren showed that when the attacking pieces align, Rangers retain significant firepower.
McInnes has repeatedly stressed the need for greater quality, confidence and defensive stinginess. The two legs against Jablonec will test whether the recent cup performance was a genuine turning point or a temporary respite. Supporters will expect a strong, assertive display at Ibrox that puts the club in control of the tie. Anything less risks prolonging the early-season uncertainty that has already marked the McInnes era.
- The squad list itself is not a dramatic “leak” of three key starters being ruthlessly discarded; rather, it reflects pragmatic decisions shaped by form, fitness, contractual situations and the manager’s preferred hierarchy. What matters more is how those available players perform when the spotlight intensifies on Thursday night. For a club of Rangers’ history and expectations, the Conference League play-off is not where the season was supposed to be decided — but it is the reality they must now confront and overcome.
