Rangers TV pundit can’t believe Aaron Ramsey may be axed after ‘surprise’ move
Alan Hutton has tipped Aaron Ramsey to start for Rangers against Braga after Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s “surprise” team selection in the first leg.
The former Gers defender and Rangers TV pundit, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted he was bemused as to why the 31-year-old did not feature at all in Portugal.
Ramsey was left as an unused substitute for the away leg and only played 45 minutes against St Mirren on Sunday.
Hutton suggested Van Bronckhorst may be saving the Wales international for the Light Blues’ “bigger games”.
As such, he admitted he would be stunned if Ramsey does not feature in the starting XI against Braga.
“I think I’ll fall off my seat if he doesn’t play on Thursday,” Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“I was surprised in the first leg that he didn’t play. That being said, when you actually see the team, it was Jack, Lundstram, Kamara, Arfield. He obviously wanted to be defensively solid.
“You can understand that, it’s a quarter-final, away from home. There’s no need to go in all guns blazing. Reading into it, I do understand.
“Maybe the little bit I didn’t was why not bring him on? Why not try and get the goal in the second half or whatever. That’s what I don’t get.
“Again, against St Mirren he played, came off at halftime. They’ve done the damage, 2-0 up, he got his minutes in his legs and save him for the bigger games coming up. I do understand why the manager took him off.”
Ramsey has been an unused substitute for Rangers’ last three Europa League games.
He has made eight appearances since joining on loan from Juventus in January.
In other news, pundit issues Giovanni van Bronckhorst sack claim as ‘overhaul’ mooted.