Todd Cantwell joins Rangers list of absentees as 'family matter' rules midfielder out of Real Betis trip

Rangers missing several players for Europe League clash in Seville on Wednesday

Todd Cantwell will miss Rangers' Europa League match against Real Betis due to a family matter. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell will miss the Europa League fixture away to Real Betis due to a "family matter".

The Ibrox side need a victory in Spain to guarantee their place in the last 16 of the competition although they have the safety net of a place in the knock-out stages of the Europa Conference League should they lose.

Rangers are already missing a number of players through injury with striker Danilo ruled out until April and Tom Lawrence also missing until after the winter break along with midfielder Nico Raskin.

Now Cantwell has been added to the list of absentees after pulling out of the trip to Seville for reasons which manager Philippe Clement insisted will remain private.

“Todd is not here because of personal circumstances, and he wants to keep it personal, so we respect that,” said the Rangers boss. “It’s nothing between the club and him, or me and him, it’s just family-wise.

“There’s a really big chance (he will be available for Sunday) but it’s not guaranteed.”

Midfielder Ryan Jack has also failed to make it with Clement adding: “I hoped Ryan would be back but it’s not the case.

“It’s quite a list of players injured and not on the European list. But it’s about the guys who are here,” he said. “They are here with ambition and to prove themselves as a team.”

Clement experienced other bad news this week. Ecuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes lost his appeal against the red card he received against Dundee on Saturday, which rules him out of Sunday’s Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen through suspension.

“I was surprised with the Cifuentes decision," Clement added “None of the Dundee players reacted at the time. They just continued to attack as it was a duel with a contact. It is disappointing to lose the player for two games. But I don’t have any power in that so we will focus on the guys who are available.”