Should Nathan Patterson start for Rangers against Antwerp?

After the thrilling 4-3 victory in Belgium last week, supporters will be hoping that the game this evening is a little more straightforward for Steven Gerrard and his players.

But with James Tavernier still out injured after picking up an injury during the first leg, Gerrard has a dilemma on his hands. Who can fill in for the Ibrox skipper?

Leon Balogun has been the Liverpool great's go-to man in Rangers' last two outings and the centre-back has slotted in admirably out wide. But with so much on the line, could Gerrard be tempted to turn to a natural right-back?

The only other candidate is Nathan Patterson, who returned to first-team training on Wednesday after issuing an apology to the club's fans on Rangers TV for flouting lockdown rules and attending a party alongside four team-mates.

Is it time to throw Patterson into the starting XI? Or should the youngster have to wait a little longer after his Covid breach? 

He won't start but is likely to be back in squad, writes Mark Hendry

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Can a grovelling apology really be enough to get oneself back into the good graces?

Patterson begged Rangers fans via Gers TV to welcome him back into open arms after his Covid protocol breach. But it looked a bit more like PR spin, with the player - as well as Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu - already having been brought back into the first-team fold by manager Gerrard.

Tonight's second leg against Royal Antwerp is a big one for the Ibrox club after the 4-3 result last week and Gers are without influential captain Tavernier. The Englishman hobbled off in Belgium in what seemed like some sort of divine message to Patterson, reminding him that he really did mess up.

And he absolutely did. There's no getting away from that. All five sinners did. The 19-year-old may still be a youngster, but he has to understand the scrutiny and pressure that comes with playing for a club like Rangers - as well as the expectation.

At the end of the day, Patterson has been dealt with by the club, with Gerrard saying the punishments for all five were robust. He has been punished by the cops, too, who issued a fine. So perhaps it's time to draw a line under it now.

Yes, we know the 'Rangers Five' risked an awful lot for their club - as well as the season as a whole - with their antics. But the Light Blues welcoming them back to training seems to imply that they are past it. So, with Tavernier out, Patterson may well be given the opportunity to return to the matchday squad this evening.

Balogun is almost a certainty to start at Ibrox against Antwerp after springing from the bench last week at right-back. The question is whether or not Gerrard would rather have a natural full-back in place. After all, the kid has a big future in the game - that he almost wrecked - and with Tavernier out for now, it could be the perfect opportunity for Gers to see what he's really made of on the pitch.

For me, it's a bit too early to bring him back into the starting line up, certainly. I don't subscribe to the notion that Rangers should sack him, bin 'The Five' and move on without them.

But I do believe people should be held accountable for their actions and while a fine and internal punishment is all well and good, it's certainly further penance for the youngster to know his own stupidity has - for now - cost him a place in the first team.

It's far too soon for a reward, writes James Cairney

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Let's get the obvious out the way: it was incredibly stupid for Patterson and his associates to breach Covid protocols by attending a house party. It's the sort of flagrant disregard of the rules that really sticks in the throats of those who have been diligently following them, and fans were right to be unhappy.

I don't think, however, that any of the players permanently attached to the club should have their contracts ripped up and unceremoniously booted out the back door at Ibrox. They've been punished by the police, their employers and will likely face some sort of wrap on the knuckles from the Scottish FA too. Add to that the angry public reaction to their misdeeds and in my view, that's punishment enough.

Having said that, I don't think we can draw a line under the whole sorry episode quite yet. Starting Patterson tonight - 11 days after he broke the rules - seems awfully lenient to me.

Don't get me wrong: I've nothing against the kid. I honestly hope that he bounces back from this setback and carves out a career for himself at Ibrox. But playing in a game of this magnitude - it would be the biggest in Patterson's short career - feels like a reward to me, and I don't think the defender's recent behaviour merits that.

For me, Gerrard has to go with Balogun tonight. He's shown in the last two games that he's up to the task of filling in for Tavernier and while he doesn't offer as much going forward, he's a more than capable deputy.

Patterson will get his chance eventually. But tonight is far too soon.