Wylde delivers verdict as Rangers make emphatic reported decision on 25-year-old
By Matt Farr
Former Rangers winger Gregg Wylde believes the club could come to regret their decision to axe midfielder Andy Halliday from their Europa League squad.
The Scottish Sun claimed on Monday that the 25-year-old was among five senior players that had been omitted from Rangers’ squad for their upcoming Europa League qualifier against Progres Niederkorn this week.
Halliday was a first-team regular in the Rangers side prior to the arrival of manager Pedro Caixinha in March, only to start just one of their 10 Scottish Premiership matches under the Portuguese.
But Halliday looks set to be cast aside by Caixinha once again ahead of the new season, after the emphatic decision was made to leave him out of their European squad for Thursday’s clash at Ibrox.
Wylde, who began his senior career at Ibrox, criticised the decision and insists Halliday should have been made available for Rangers.
He told the Scottish Sun: “I would have Andy Halliday in my squad, even if he’s not playing and worth only of a place on the bench. That’s because he’s a Rangers man.
“He knows what Rangers standards are and the expectations which will be on the players at this time of year. He has shown in the past he can get the players around him geed up for the big games.
“He gives the team that drive and energy, so to leave him out of the squad entirely just seems a bit harsh. That’s the manager’s decision though and Andy will just need to take it on the chin.”
But Halliday could even find himself cast aside from the entire Ibrox setup this summer, after it was reported that he would be made available for loan.
It was claimed by the Scottish Sun on Monday morning that Caixinha has informed the player that he can go out on loan next season, and has been made to train with the Under-2o’s side.
Caixinha was always likely to offload a number of players in an attempt to balance the books following the arrival of no fewer than eight summer signings.
But the decision to axe Halliday in particular may come as a reasonable surprise, considering he made 42 appearances in all competitions last season.
In other Rangers news, the agent of this 27-year-old new recruit has made a bold claim about his Rangers transfer.
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