
Rangers squad for Champions League playoff revealed as transfer clue emerges from two changes
Rangers boss Russell Martin has made two changes to the squad for the Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge.
The Ibrox side are looking to navigate the play-off stage for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign and secure a £40million jackpot.
Going into the crucial double clash with the Belgian side, Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore has been drafted in and replaced Oscar Cortes.
The 18-year-old loanee was unable to make the UEFA list for the previous round due to registration issues - but has now been preferred to the Colombian.
With Ridvan Yilmaz also being left out of the squad, Max Aarons could cover at left-back for the games against Brugge.
Rangers' Champions League squad for Club Brugge
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland
Liam Kelly
Kieran Wright
Defenders
Max Aarons
Nasser Djiga
Emmanuel Fernandez
Leon King
John Souttar
James Tavernier
Midfielders
Nedim Bajrami
Connor Barron
Lyall Cameron
Mikey Moore
Mohamed Diomande
Kieran Dowell
Robbie Fraser
Djiedi Gassama
Nico Raskin
Joe Rothwell
Oliver Antman
Thelo Aasgaard
Forwards
Cyriel Dessers
Hamza Igamane
Danilo

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Daily Record
25 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Dane Murray lifts lid on Celtic ball boy memories with youngster ready to be thrown in Champions League deep end
The defender scored his first Hoops' goal in the Premier Sports Cup victory against Falkirk There are several Celtic stars who have made the journey from ball boy to the Champions League big time at Parkhead. But few have had to take a winding path like Dane Murray. The big defender is dreaming of joining Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Anthony Ralston in the band of Bhoys who got to help out their heroes from the sidelines as kids and then became star turns on the pitch. And the opportunity would be all the sweeter for Murray after being forced to wait almost four years to kick on after getting a taste as a teenager. The centre back was launched into the Hoops side in former boss Ange Postecoglou's early days in charge with high-pressure initiations in the Champions League qualifiers against Midtjylland in 2021. But a couple of brutal cruciate injuries back-to-back threatened his career never mind halting his progress. Murray has put the heartache behind him and forced his way back into boss Brendan Rodgers ' plans. He celebrated a new contract on Friday morning with a start and a goal in the Premier Sports Cup win against Falkirk and is now dreaming of completing his dream of walking out at Celtic Park in the Champions League. Celts will need to see off Kairat Almaty this week to get back to the big time and Murray said: 'It definitely makes it all worth it. You think back on hard things, but it really stands you in good stead and puts you in a good place to win, ultimately, the chance that this comes, you go and take it. 'It helps a lot when you've got a manager like him that trusts you and puts you into games like this, and then I'm just grateful for every opportunity that he gives me. 'It's just about being on it every day in training, making sure I'm ready that when my chance does come, I'm ready to take it.' Murray can handle anything after being lobbed in at the deep end four years ago. He said: 'I think it all happened very quickly. I was 18 at the time, it was all maybe too quick for me, or too early, but I think now I'm definitely ready to take that chance. 'It was a crazy, crazy time back then. I was young and it was covid times as well, so it was a lesser crowd. I think it's different for games like this when it's packed out. 'But when you're that young, you just want to take every opportunity you can get, regardless. I felt the pressure a wee bit, but I just took it in my stride.' Murray's positive attitude got him through some dark times – along with the backing of his loved ones and Hoops assistant boss John Kennedy, who knows exactly about the anguish of serious injury. The defender said: 'I did my cruciate twice, so that was pretty much two years out of the game. For me personally, I'm just quite a get-on-with-it kind person, so that's what I did, just got on with it. 'You think the worst, but ultimately, I'm quite an optimistic person, so it's how do I bounce back from this, how do I get myself in the right frame of mind to ultimately go again, and have another crack at it. 'I've got a lot of time for the people that help me along the way, my family, my friends, my girlfriend Yasmin as well, everybody that helped me along the way, as I say, I'm very thankful for that. 'Kendo went through a rough time himself as a player, so I can always lean on him if I need help with anything. 'He's been on a bit of a long journey, as he said himself, and just helped me along the way, so I'm really grateful for the time he gave me.' Murray is also inspired by the Scottish core of the Celtic side – and his fellow former ball boy crew. He said: 'I can't really remember what games, it was that long ago, but there were few of the big ones. 'Going from a ball boy to then playing in it, when I did, and then being a part of it now, it's crazy. It's been a long journey, but I'm just loving every minute. 'This is what I want to be. Look at the players that have been here and done it. For me, it's just a real driving force to go and do what they've done at this club. 'It really gives you a lot of inspiration coming through, seeing these guys and what they've won. You've got guys like James here, who's the most decorated player at the club. 'He's probably sick of people saying that, to be honest, but you can look at guys like him and Cal and then KT coming back as well, it's really inspiring. I think it's always been a factor at this club, so hopefully I can be a part of it as well.' The deep end was calling again last season when he made a late sub appearance against Aston Villa, where his slip up led to a late fourth for the EPL big guns. You live and learn but he's ready to answer the call if he gets the shout to face Kairat in Wednesday's Champions League play-off first leg showdown. He said: 'You dream of Champions League and nights like that, going out and playing, so we'll see what happens. 'That was a bit crazy at Villa Park. I think there was maybe ten minutes left, and it wasn't a great night for myself – thanks for reminding me! 'I was just grateful for the opportunity. That's the goal for this team, is making it through the Champions League and getting as far as we can. 'It's definitely a big game under the lights here. I just hope the boys can go out there and do their best. It was a good performance one Friday, so hopefully we can roll it into Wednesday.'


The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Jacob Ramsey delighted with £39m move from Aston Villa to Newcastle
Newcastle have completed the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey. The 24-year-old has signed a long-term contract with the club, who are understood to have paid an initial £39m for his services, with a further £4m due in add-ons. The Villa academy graduate, who made 167 appearances for their senior team, 10 of them in last season's Champions League, is the fourth acquisition of the summer for the Newcastle head coach, Eddie Howe. 'I'm delighted to be here. It's been a mad two or three days, but I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to get started,' Ramsey said. 'This is a big move for me, but as soon as I knew the gaffer was interested and really liked me, it didn't take much time to decide. His track record of developing players, especially those who have gone on to become internationals here, speaks for itself. 'It was always a tough game playing for Villa against Newcastle – the team is full of energy, so athletic and the fans are so passionate. I feel my game will suit that and I'm excited to be on the other end of it now.' Newcastle began their Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw at Villa on Saturday and Ramsey will join the squad on the training pitch as they begin preparations for the visit of the champions, Liverpool, a week on Monday. Howe said: 'Jacob is another fantastic addition to our squad. His qualities will bring us something different on the pitch and he fits the profile of being young and hungry to develop, but also with a wealth of Premier League football under his belt. 'Jacob offers versatility and his directness in attack has proven to be a real threat at this level in recent seasons. He performed very well in the Champions League last season too and we believe he'll be a major asset for us.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Ramsey was part of England's European Under-21 Championship-winning squad in 2023 alongside new teammate Anthony Gordon. He joins Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale and Malick Thiaw in heading for St James' Park this summer.


The Herald Scotland
28 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Dane Murray on 'crazy' Celtic 24hrs and reflects on journey
It came on the same day as the Parkhead club announced their academy product had signed a new deal, committing himself until the summer of 2028. Murray admits he will struggle to enjoy a better 24 hours. 'I don't think you can get much better than that," he said post-match. "It's been a crazy 24 hours, but no, I'm really happy. 'It (the contract) came about quite quickly. 'It's really been the last week or so, so everything's moving fast. Everything was really easy with the club. So yeah, happy to get it done. 'I was thinking, imagine how good this day could be if I go and score, so luckily it came through. " Achieving longevity at a club with such high standards is difficult in itself but Murray deserves even more credit considering he has been plagued by injury issues and missed long spells of football. Read more: Plenty would have wilted, unable to push themselves to respond to such drastic setbacks and stay at a club with spending power to go out and buy ready-made stars for big money. Reflecting on the hard times, the defender insists it actually helped him build resilience. Friday's events made it all worthwhile. 'It definitely makes it all worth it," he admitted. "You think back on hard things, but it really stands you in good stead and puts you in a good place. 'It's just about being on it every day in training, making sure I'm ready that when my chance does come, I'm ready to take it." It is not the first time Murray has had a pinch-me moment in the green and white hoops. Four years ago, he was handed his debut by Ange Postecoglou in a Champions League qualifier against Danish side Midtjylland, featuring in both legs." He would later come on as a substitute in a league phase game of the competition against Aston Villa. 'I think it all happened very quickly," he reflected. "I was 18 at the time, it was all not too quick for me, or too early, but I think now I'm definitely ready to take that chance. 'It was a crazy, crazy time back then, I'm just looking forward to the future. 'I was young so I think that probably came into a part of it as well. It was COVID times as well, so it was a lesser crowd, so I think it's different for games like this when it's near enough packed out. Read more: 'So I think that probably played a part as well, but I think when you're that young, you just want to take every opportunity you can get, regardless. 'You dream of Champions League and nights like that, going out and playing, so we'll see what happens. 'That was a bit crazy at Villa Park. I think there was maybe ten minutes left, and it wasn't a great night for myself, what happened – thanks for reminding me! 'I was just grateful for the opportunity. That's the goal for this team, is making it through the Champions League and getting as far as we can.' That all saw him go full circle years after performing the role of ball boy in Champions League clashes as a young kid. Murray added: 'I was a ball boy in a few of the big ones. I think going from doing it as a ball boy, to then ultimately playing in it, when I did, and then being a part of it now, it's crazy. It's been a long journey, but no, I'm just loving every minute of it. 'This is what I want to be, look at the players that have been here, ultimately been here and done it. I think, for me, it's just a real driving force to go and do what they've done at this club. 'It really gives you a lot of inspiration coming through, seeing these guys and what they've won. 'You've got guys like James (Forrest) here, who's the most decorated player at the club. 'He's probably sick of people saying that, to be honest, but you can look at guys like him and Cal and then KT coming back as well, it's really inspiring. 'I think it's always been a factor at this club, so yeah, ultimately, hopefully I can be a part of it as well. 'In training every day, just learning off everybody, taking it in my stride, and hopefully when I get my chance, I can take it."