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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

Leon King in Rangers injury sweat as Gio van Bronckhorst suffers yet more defensive misery

Rangers' defensive woes could get even worse after Leon King limped off against Napoli.

Under-pressure Giovanni van Bronckhorst is already without centre-backs Connor Goldson, John Souttar plus long-term absentee Filip Helander. Those absences had thrust 18-year-old academy graduate King into the spotlight but now he too could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

The teenager was forced off in the second-half of Rangers' 3-0 Champions League defeat in Naples, with Borna Barisic forced to drop into central defence for the closing stages. Van Bronckhorst does not have his troubles to seek following another bruising defeat on the continent but he could now be forced to get even more creative with his backline, albeit the extent of King's issue is not yet clear. A double from Giovanni Simeone and a stunning second-half header from Leo Ostigard consigned Rangers to a fifth consecutive group stage defeat on a largely comfortable night for the Serie A leaders.

Leon King battles for the ball (2022 DeFodi Images)

Van Bronckhorst's side have conceded 19 goals across this five fixtures, including a 7-1 drubbing from Liverpool last time. Their only hope of salvaging a place in the Europa League is by recording a resounding victory over Ajax at Ibrox on matchday six.

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