Leon Balogun Poised To Start In League Cup Clash With Hibernian

Glasgow Rangers of Scotland defender, leon Aderemi Balogun is poised to start his club’s next Scottish League Cup clash with Hibernians, though the encounter is not coming up until November 21, megasportsarena.com reports.

A strong hint in that direction was provided by The Gers’ coach, Steven Gerrard, who disclosed that he yanked the Super Eagles’ star out of last weekend’s game versus Ross County in order to keep him fresh for the Cup fixture.

Balogun will now look forward to more time on the pitch against The Hibs, after bowing out early in last Saturday’s 4-2 win away to Joseph Hungbo’s side, following which Gerrard also praised Joe Aribo for his performance.

The development also means Balogun will be fresh for international duty with the Super Eagles, as the Nigerian team play a Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liberia in Tangier, Morocco, ahead of which the coach, Gernot Rohr would be glad to hear Gerrard’s words.

Such is the delight Rohr would have learning that the former Liverpool captain admitted that his decision to take off Balogun with 20 minutes remaining on Saturday was basically because his side had already opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

They stay top of the log heading into the third international break of the season thanks to goals from Aribo, Ryan Kent, Juninho Bacuna and an own goal, after Hungbo’s early opener, hence the reasoning of Gerrard that he need not stretch Balogun any further.

While Balogun was also on a disciplinary tightrope, having picked up a booking for a mistimed tackle in the 41st minute, Gerrard confessed that he decided to substitute the Super Eagles central defender with an eye on the League Cup semi-final clash against Hibernian.

Gerrard submitted: “I have taken Leon Balogun off to protect him because we need him for the League Cup semi final against Hibs and with Fil Helander being out injured, he is so important.”