Glasgow Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways today following yet another Champions League defeat in midweek.
The 3-1 loss to Ajax condemned the Ibrox giants to a record that surely nobody would have envisioned after the highs of beating PSV Eindhoven in the play-offs – statistically the worst-ever Champions League group stage showing.
With a trip to Perth to face St Johnstone marking a chance for the Light Blues to move on swiftly from a dispiriting European campaign, thoughts now turn as to who will make the Rangers team today.
Truth be told, Giovanni van Bronckhorst doesn’t have a lot of options to call upon due to various injuries. Nonetheless, we at Football FanCast have predicted the Gers' starting XI for another vital league clash…
Predicted Rangers XI: McGregor; Tavernier, King, Sands, Barisic; Lundstram, Kamara; Sakala, Tillman, Kent; Morelos
Allan McGregor will continue in goal for Rangers and will be hoping to record just his third clean sheet of the season.
James Tavernier and Borna Barisic will start at right- and left-back respectively, while Leon King will partner James Sands at the heart of the defence. Ben Davies missed Tuesday night's clash against Ajax due to injury, and despite Van Bronckhorst saying that the former Liverpool man should be available for the weekend, he will likely start on the bench.
John Lundstram will keep his place in the centre of midfield and will be partnered with Glen Kamara, who is available for today’s match after returning to the squad following an injury. This means that Steven Davis, who was dubbed “over the hill” by Daily Mail journalist Calum McClurkin following the defeat to Ajax on Tuesday, will drop to the bench.
Fashion Sakala and Ryan Kent will be the wide options, with the Zambian arguably emerging as Rangers' greatest threat from the right wing; while Kent will be eager to contribute, having netted just once all season. Malik Tillman will once again feature in the number ten role and be aiming to use his creativity to create opportunities for the Light Blues.
Alfredo Morelos will lead the line in place of Antonio Colak. The £31.5k-per-week striker will be hoping to score for the second week in succession after his goal against Aberdeen last week; and with seven goals against the Saints during his spell in Glasgow, he will be determined to add an eighth (or possibly more) if he is handed a first Premiership start of the season.