Rangers’ gaffer Steven Gerrard is optimistic that Super Eagles towering defender Leon Balogun could be fit enough for Thursday’s Europa clash with Lincoln Red Imps, a report from Rangernews indicates.

The fair-skinned Nigerian center back cropped up a quad tight injury during warm-up before last weekend win over Dundee United, but he now faces a late fitness test for the trip to Gibraltar. The Gers gaffer believes Balogun’s injury is not as serious as earlier speculated last weekend and should be good enough to make the trip.“It’s something that we will certainly look into but in terms of preparation and trusting how my staff goes about things, this is the first time we have had a day like this when things have gone against us.

“I don’t think we can do anything about Alfredo’s injury. It’s an impact injury. “We think Leon will be fine. We think we got it before it was an injury, it was a bit of tightness and we made the right decision to take him out of the team.“I think we have come away with two injuries rather than four, but let’s see how the next few days go,” Gerrard told Daily Record.