Derek Cornelius allowed to join up with Canada ahead of schedule

Rangers boss Danny Rohl reveals Derek Cornelius has been allowed to go on international duty with Canada early after training alone for a couple of days.

The 28-year-old defender, on loan from Marseille, has not played for Rangers since picking up a muscle injury against Venezuela last November.

Rohl confirmed that, after discussions with Cornelius and Canada coach Jesse Marsch, he will talk again with the player on his return to Ibrox to see what part, if any, he will play in the run-in.

Marsch had earlier been quoted as saying: “And I’ll be honest, in this one, as I was trying to work with both Danny and Derek, some of the conversation that I translated from one to the other got lost in translation and led to a situation that wasn’t advantageous for Derek or for the team.”

Rohl said: “He will travel today to the national team. I gave him the opportunity to go earlier to the national team.

“I had two conversations in the last couple of days with Derek.

“I will have a conversation when he comes back from the national team again.

“All these things, what does it mean, Derek and me, it’s between us. This is crucial.

“I have my principles, this is very important. Derek and me are very clear, and it’s the reason we need after the national break one more conversation.

“Then we will see in which direction this goes. I think it was two or three times with Jesse in the conversation.

“I know him very well, we are good friends, we trust each other.

“I think in the end it’s about the club, Rangers, on the other side.

“This is also important, I was with the (Germany) national team, I know what it means to play in a World Cup.

“This is also a part where I will support Derek, that he is available for the World Cup.

“He trained with us, and then the last couple of days more individually.

“Then we will see after the national break in which direction it goes.”