BARRY FERGUSON promised changes for Rangers’ Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao – with keeper Jack Butland in danger of a shock axe.

Butland blundered again yesterday with a major mistake for Hibs’ opening goal in their 2-0 win.

And that’s put his place in the side in jeopardy – with a shock recall for Liam Kelly a possibility.

Grim-faced Ferguson said: “There will be a series of changes on Thursday night. I can say that right now.”

Asked about Butland, he replied: “I get where you’re coming from with the question.

“I’ve said to Jack, it’s a bad mistake and he understands that.

“So I then need to go and we’ll see an hour and 15 minutes when you get the team lines on Thursday.

“But you will see some changes, that’s why you carry a squad.

“If people make mistakes, if people are off it, if people don’t run as much as I think they should run, then they’re not going to play in my team.

“Because I watched that Hibs team who I thought wanted it more than us and who deserved to beat us.

“And it hurts me to say that, but it is what it is.

“So it’s my job now to go in and try and come up with a scenario where that won’t happen going forward.

“And I’ll tell you something, I’ll work hard at doing it and I’ll make sure I do it.

“I’ve honestly not watched Bilbao, because I’m very much game to game.

“My staff have watched them. They tried to talk about it on Friday, but I’m not interested, I had to concern myself with Hibs.

“But I know they’re a quality team.

“However these are the games where you don’t need to really motivate people, because you’re playing in Europe and it’s a different kind of atmosphere.

“That doesn’t concern me.

“It’s these games out here like today’s that concern me. These are the games that have been the Achilles heel of this club for far too long.

“I ain’t going to sit here and accept that – even if it’s only for another seven or eight weeks.”

Ferguson threw on youngster Findlay Curtis late on and emphasised he won’t be afraid to turn to youngsters rather than his first-choice flops.

He said: “The young ones are always going to get an opportunity.

“You’ve seen young Findlay coming on, albeit it was only a few minutes.

“Bailey Rice, I think, is a bit behind in development. Listen, he’s a fantastic talent, you’ve seen the effect he had when he came on last Saturday.

“Unfortunately for him, he took a sore one on his knee. He went for a scan, it’s come back and hopefully he’s going to be available on Thursday.

“But I ain’t scared, because I know what I’m going to get from those boys. They’re going to dig deep, they’re going to run hard for you, even if they might not be experienced.

“So I’ve a lot of thinking to do over the next couple of days. But I’ll be clear on what I’m going to do come Monday morning.”

But for all Ferguson’s woes, David Gray was delighted to see his side extend their unbeaten league run to 16 games.

He beamed: “It’s a massive win, clearly.

“I said to all the players before the game about the level of performance that’s required to come here and win.

“History tells you it’s a really difficult place for a team to come – 2018 was the last time we came here and won in the league.

”But I got the level of performance required from every player today.

“I’m delighted for the players because they fully deserve it.

“Obviously coming here, with the magnitude of the game and the level of performance required, it makes you feel extra special.

“There’s 50,000 supporters, and the intensity that Rangers can put you under at times.

“But I thought the start of the game was huge and getting the first goal really helped.

“Rangers are always going to push at that point and we had to suffer a little bit without the ball. But credit to the players – the shape, the discipline, the desire to keep that clean sheet were all there.

“It was a real collective effort from everyone involved.”

Gray said he got a quick shout that the clinching second goal – ratified by a VAR check – was onside.

He said: “We’ve got the benefit of the screen at the side of the pitch though I never really trust that until you see it after.

“Because there’s always cases where you see it and go, that looks miles onside. Then they draw the lines and it’s not. You never actually know until you’re seeing the camera they use.

“But the bench behind me was pretty confident – they actually thought he was just about in his own half.

“When you see somebody like Boyle running, he’s so quick. And if somebody’s going the other way, they can look miles offside.

“With the speed of the game and the speed of the players it can always be a lot closer.

“I was pretty confident once I had a second look at it that it was onside.”

Boyle is closing in on 100 Hibs goals – yesterday was his 95th – and Gray added: He’s always been a constant threat at this level for a number of years now.

“This season, I’ve given him a little bit more responsibility in terms of that leadership role with the captain’s armband when Joe Newell‘s not playing.

“I think he’s massively benefiting from that, leading by example, showing why he’s been so successful at this level.

“It’s not just on the pitch, it’s every day in training as well.

“He wants to try and get 100 goals for Hibs. So you’ve got that little bit between your teeth, and he’s got that little mindset of trying to better himself all the time.

“Every time I put the board up and his number comes up, I can see him looking at me as if to say, ‘Why are you taking me off?’

“But he’s someone that’s playing full of confidence which is brilliant.”

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