NIER & FAR
Rangers captain James Tavernier dramatically DROPPED as Philippe Clement names replacement for huge Euro clash
He's replaced by a player making his first start since September
RANGERS captain James Tavernier has been DROPPED for the Europa League clash with Olympiacos.
The skipper has been named as a substitute for the crunch Euro showdown in Greece.
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Tavernier, 33, has endured an inconsistent season with a number of his performances coming under fire from the Ibrox support.
The Gers fans' frustrations were particularly clear at Hampden on Sunday after a wild cross sailed out for a goal kick early in the second-half against Motherwell.
Philippe Clement didn't seem particularly impressed either, and dramatically hooked his captain in the 67th minute.
That was despite the fact Rangers were chasing a winner in the huge Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
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That winner eventually came in the form of a Nedim Bajrami strike.
Clement refused to comment on Tavernier's performance post-match but has now dramatically DROPPED the right-back from the starting XI tonight.
Dujon Sterling comes in to replace him from the start, his first time in the starting XI since mid-September.
Speaking before the match, Clement insisted that the decision to drop Tavernier was down to rotation.
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He told Rangers TV: "With Dujon, he came in well, he's in a good period now, the last two weeks after we could solve his problems with his injury.
"It's rotation in the squad in that way.
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"Like we said before, Tav will not play all the games.
"Dujon is pushing there so it's an interesting game to see against a winger with a lot of speed, Dujon needs to use his qualities there."
Goalkeeper Jack Butland takes the captain's armband.
It isn't the first time Tavernier has been benched this season.
He was named among the substitutes for the Premiership clash against St Mirren less than two weeks ago.
On that occasion, Clement insisted then, once again, that it was purely a rotational decision in order to give Tavernier a rest amid a busy period of fixtures.
He said back on October 27: "We need a team where everybody is ready.
"We play every three days, more games than ever in the history of football this season.
"So we need every position that you have at least two or three players that are able to play at a level we want to play and win all the games.
"Today is now the next step to make in this short adaptation."
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Nana Kasanwirjo started on that occasion but he too is among the substitutes for the Olympiacos game.
Ridvan Yilmaz returned to the squad after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
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