Filip Helander reveals his Rangers sadness over Europa League exclusion with Final in sight

Rangers stopper Filip Helander admits he's gutted at being left out for the Ibrox club's Europa League list with a European Final in sight.

The Swede came on for the final five minutes of extra time to shore up their defence in the 1-0 win over Czech Republic last week, which saw them clinch a place in the World Cup play-off final against Poland tomorrow.

But he won't play a part in Rangers' Europa League campaign after manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted not to include him on the list submitted in February because Helander was only just coming back from knee surgery since being sidelined against St Johnstone last September.

But the 28-year-old former Bologna stopper admitted it's hard to be on the outside looking in amid Rangers' impressive European run as they prepare for a Europa League quarter-final in Braga next week.

He said: "I was just back in full training after the injury when the squad needed to be submitted and therefore I was not selected.

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"It's very sad for me not to be able to participate in a possible final.

"So yes, of course, I am disappointed not to be allowed to be part of the squad.

"Physically, I feel great. I have not played that much after the injury, but it is