Former Hearts winger Arvydas Novikovas the man to watch for Legia, says Ziggy Gordon
Gordon played with Novikovas in the Polish top flight at Jagiellonia
Ziggy Gordon is a rare case of Scottish footballer making the jump abroad in an attempt to further their career.
He spent a year and a half in Poland, joining Jagiellonia BiaĊystok in January 2017 before moving to PogoĊ Siedlce a year later.
The former Hamilton defender, who now plies his trade in Australia with Central Coast Mariners, knows the Polish top flight better than most in this country.
Having played against Steven Gerrardâs Rangers side last season heâll be an interested spectator from the other side of the world when they take on Legia Warsaw in the Europa League play-off on Thursday night.
Heâs also tipping one of his former Jagiellonia teammates to cause Rangers problems at the Polish Army Stadium â a man thatâs a familiar name to many in Scotland.
He said: âI think a lot of the responsibility will lie with Arvydas Novikovas.
"I know his strengths very well and heâs a very dangerous player.
âRangers really need to take a lot of time to analyse him and make sure they stop him because heâs a major threat for Legia and something theyâll want to use".
Novikovas has gone from strength to strength since his five-year stay at Hearts.
He joined Legia in the summer and has already made six appearances for his new side, scoring once.
The 28-year old has had a taste of the intimidating atmosphere his new supporters create, and Ziggy Gordon has tipped Rangers to cope well with it.
He said: âI think itâll be a real hostile atmosphere from the first minute but I think the Rangers players will be well educated on what to expect.
âIâm sure Steven Gerrard has told the players how to handle themselves because it will be tense and nervous.
Gordon says he can see many similarities between the two teams going into Thursday nightâs match, but he thinks the Ibrox side have enough in them to make it to the Europa League group stages.
He said: âWeâre talking about two super clubs. Both of them have very similar atmospheres at their home grounds so it will be nothing new to both sets of players.
âItâs very difficult to call because both teams are used to winning but if I had to put my money where my mouth is I would go for Rangers.
âTheyâve had emphatic victories recently and I theyâre scoring so many goals. I canât see them conceding too many goals, especially going to Warsawâ