Rangers FC manager Philippe Clement has confirmed that he substituted Leon Balogun during Sunday’s win over Kilmarnock because the defender suffered an injury. Balogun started his third straight game since regaining the manager’s favour when the Gers hosted Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Despite enjoying a decent 45 minutes which ended 1-1 after James Tavernier’s own goal was cancelled out by Fabio Silva’s late strike, Balogun did not return for the second half. The Nigeria international was replaced by Ben Davies to the surprise of some fans, as Rangers went on to record an emphatic 4-1 victory over their opponents.
However, Rangers boss Clement has now explained his reason for substituting the 35-year-old, citing an injury that the player suffered. Clement said Leon Balogun sustained a muscle injury midway through the game but played through the pain till the end of the first half.
The Nigerian had struggled to get into the Rangers team since the turn of the year but returned to the starting line-up during the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts in April. His impressive performance against Hearts saw him rewarded with another start against St. Mirren in the league.
Leon Balogun faces race against time to be fit for Celtic clash
Balogun made it three consecutive starts when he was named in the starting line-up against Kilmarnock for Sunday’s league game but couldn't complete the game after suffering an injury. While the former Brighton and Hove Albion rearguard has developed into a key player in recent weeks, he now risks missing next week’s crucial title decider against Celtic.
Rangers are currently three points behind their archrivals ahead of next Saturday’s Old Firm Derby, which means they have a good chance of moving level on points with Celtic at the top of the table. But the Gers could be missing the services of Balogun, whose return date is not certain yet.
Addressing journalists in the aftermath of Rangers’ win against Kilmarnock, Clement confirmed that Leon Balogun had picked up an injury and said he was unsure if the defender would recover in time for the big game against Celtic.
“Yes he was injured that is why I had to replace him. I hope it is a small muscle injury,” Clement said, as quoted by Rangers Review, before adding in an interview with BBC that he has “no clue for the moment” whether Balogun will be fit before Saturday.
How Leon Balogun’s injury-proneness has affected his Super Eagles career
Meanwhile, Balogun’s return to Rangers has been blighted by niggling injuries, which have reduced him to few appearances. The 35-year-old has played just 14 matches in the Scottish Premiership this term, having been ruled out intermittently.
Balogun joined the Gers from Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in July 2023 as he aimed to get consistent game time. However, things have not gone according to plan and his latest injury could further reduce his chances of getting a contract extension.
The centre-back has often been injury prone and that has often affected his Super Eagles career. Despite not officially announcing his retirement, he has not played for Nigeria for a while now due to his persistent injury issues.
With the rise of younger options like Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, Balogun’s chances of returning to the fold look far from certain. Newly appointed Super Eagles coach Finidi George is keen on building a formidable team for the future and ideally would be targeting a young and exuberant squad.
While Leon Balogun’s experience might be valuable to the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong’s presence means the team can do without and the Ranger’s defender’s case isn’t helped much by his frequent unavailability due to niggling injuries.
