Gio van Bronckhorst and Rangers left with no choice on Filip Helander omission as he explains 'difficult decision'

Gio van Bronckhorst insists he had no choice over the “difficult decision” which forced Rangers to fly out to Germany without Filip Helander.

The Dutchman is set to welcome Ryan Jack back for tonight’s Europa League last 16 showdown against Borussia Dortmund but faces another defensive quandary at the Westfalenstadion after Leon Balogun was ruled out.

And fit-again Helander will play no part either against the Bundesliga giants having being left out of Van Bronckhorst ’s Euro squad.

The big Swede made his return from a five month knee injury lay-off on Saturday as he got through an hour of Gers’ Scottish Cup stroll over League Two minnows Annan.

But Van Bronckhorst had already been forced to submit his squad to UEFA long before Helander survived his Galabank comeback.

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The Ibrox boss said: “Filip is not in our squad. We have limited spaces unfortunately to get players registered.

“So for me to put Helander out was a difficult decision because he is a very important player for us.

“But he only played his first 60 minutes after so many months so he is not in the squad."

The timing of Balogun’s hamstring tear - sustained during last week’s win over Hibs - could not be much worse as he