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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

James Tavernier trains for Rangers ahead of Napoli test but Jon McLaughlin absent from preparations

James Tavernier trains for Rangers ahead of Napoli test but key player absent from preparations

JAMES TAVERNIER has trained ahead of Rangers' Champions League clash against Napoli at Ibrox.

The defender limped off at half-time last week against Ajax and after the match Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that he had been struggling with a knock.

The Light Blues boss said at full-time: “Tav had already got a knock a couple of weeks ago and he's struggling a little bit.

“Also with his fitness. It was good to change him because we could put Leon in as he was struggling a bit in the first half.”

Sky Sports News report that goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin was absent from training meaning Allan McGregor could be set to start.

McLaughlin has come in for criticism following Rangers' 4-0 defeats to Celtic and Ajax.

Speaking recently about his goalkeeper, van Bronckhorst said: “I’ve spoken with Jon and I’ve spoken with the team about how we played, the way we conceded goals and what we need to improve, what went wrong. It’s a normal process.

“You cannot change every time you have a defeat. You cannot change everything because you have to stick to your beliefs and your way of playing.

“If there is a defeat, the first thing you do as a manager is to reflect on your own decisions. That’s where it starts and that’s what I want my players to do as well.

“Many things went wrong, so I could change everything from Saturday and play with a different team tomorrow; different tactics but I think you have to keep hold of your way of playing.

“You keep trusting your players and give them confidence because in the past we have bounced back from heavy defeats and that’s what we have to do tomorrow as well."

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