Jelavic backing Gers in Europe | Sky Sports | Football News | Sky Sports

Nikica Jelavic believes Rangers will cope without him when the Europe League re-starts this week.

Jelavic is ineligible for Thursday's clash with Sporting as he played for Rapid Vienna in Europe last summer.

The Croatian striker is now back to his best after injury and bagged a hat-trick in their 6-0 win against Motherwell.

Jelavic is gutted he cannot play against the Portuguese outfit, although he is backing his team-mates to cope without him.

Frustrating

"Of course it's frustrating but what can I do now? All I can do is wait for the next SPL game against Celtic,"he said.

"We have a strong team with or without me. We are Rangers.

"It was difficult for me to play again after three-and-a-half months. But, game by game, it is coming a little bit."

Gers put Craig Brown's side to the sword at Ibrox and Jelavic felt his team-mates ran out worthy winners.

Jelavic said:"It was nice to win the game and get the hat-trick. We started the game well and in the end we deserved to win 6-0.

"It was not so easy because we scored the second and third goals from nothing. Then we opened up the game and it was much easier afterwards but until the second goal it was difficult."

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