Dessers in Line for Rangers Return Against Panathinaikos UCL Qualifying Match

Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers could feature for Rangers on Tuesday (today) when the Scottish Premiership side host Greek giants Panathinaikos in their UEFA Champions League qualifying clash at Ibrox.

The Nigerian striker missed Rangers’ pre-season opener against Belgian side Club Brugge on July 6 due to injury and had been a doubt for this crucial fixture. However, manager Russell Martin has provided a positive update ahead of the match, suggesting Dessers may make his first appearance of the 2025/26 campaign, Sport360NG reports.

Speaking to Glasgow Times, Martin said, “Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane and Djeidi Gassama are all fit and available. They’re not ready for a full 90 minutes, but we expect to see them involved over the two legs.”

He added that Thelo Aasgaard remains the only injury concern in the squad. “Our medical team has done a fantastic job. Having just one player out at this stage of pre-season is a testament to everyone’s hard work. We’re building something fresh here, and I hope the fans can sense that energy,” he said.

Dessers, 30, was the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership last season with 18 goals and has attracted interest from AEK Athens. While the Nigerian international has already agreed personal terms with the Greek club, a move has stalled due to Rangers’ valuation and their inability to secure a suitable replacement.

For now, Dessers remains part of the Rangers setup and is expected to play a key role as they aim to reach the newly formatted group stage of Europe’s top club competition. Overcoming Panathinaikos will be a significant step toward that goal.