PHILIPPE Clement has admitted it will be “impossible” for Ryan Jack to start for Rangers in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final – but endorsed Steve Clarke’s decision to name the midfielder in his provisional Scotland squad for Euro 2024.
Clarke sprang a major surprise when he selected Jack, who has not played for the Ibrox club since March and has not started a game since February, ahead of the warm-up friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland next month.
READ MORE: Rangers player with 'tears in his eyes' is new cup final injury doubt
Clement, who has fitness doubts over a number of players ahead of the meeting with newly-crowned Scottish champions Celtic this afternoon, is unsure if the 18-times capped footballer will be able to feature in Mount Florida.
However, the Belgian, who named the experienced Scot in his match day squad for the cinch Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tynecastle last weekend, is confident the ex-Aberdeen man will be able to play in Germany.
“So he is not fit, fit, to play a high-intensity game after being months out. Looking towards tomorrow, I can say that you cannot start the game with Ryan Jack. It’s impossible.
READ MORE: Philippe Clement outlines how Rangers can end Old Firm winless run
“I wish we could as he was really good when he was fit in the moments when he was playing for me. As a player he has a lot of qualities, but he’s not fit enough to start a game like this with the intensity around it.
“The national team is something else. They don’t play tomorrow, they play in a few weeks. That’s a totally different story.”
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