Leon Balogun pinpoints Rangers turning points as he relishes blockbuster week to shut down Jurgen Klopp groans

The bright lights of the Champions League are within touching distance for Rangers. And Leon Balogun is positive trips to the Global Energy Arena and the Philips Stadion in the next five days can flick the switch on a dazzling year for the Ibrox club.

The defender doesn’t buy into the argument that too many games can sap the power at this stage of the season. He shrugs off claims from the likes of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool that being asked to play three big games a week can pull the plug from sides charged for success and insists there’s no excuses for failing to get past PSV Eindhoven.

Games like Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg in the Netherlands and next week’s first Old Firm clash of the season are exactly what the Nigeria international lives for. Balogun admits his eyes lit up as soon as he got the chance from Michael Beale to return to Govan just a year after being a key part of the side that charged to the Europa League Final.

That was electric. But the 35-year-old has never felt the buzz of the Champions League proper. Ninety minutes in Eindhoven on Wednesday will decide whether that changes this season. Then comes the small matter of the first super-charged Old Firm clash of the season next Sunday which could really set the season alight.

But before all that there’s a completely different challenge lying in wait this afternoon against Ross County in the deep, dark Highlands. Balogun knows the heat is cranking right up on the season. And he loves it.

He said: “It would be massive to go into the international break with huge success. That’s the aim.

“We all know we want to go into the Champions League and play in the group stage then be as successful as possible. Then there’s the big game next week