Rangers predicted XI v Dundee: forgotten man to earn first Gers start since 23/24
Yesterday at 08:30 AM
Philippe Clement faces taking an injury-ravaged Rangers side to Dundee as he desperately tries to halt the club's disastrous Scottish Premiership away form.
The Ibrox side are without a win in three matches on the road in Scotland, Rangers mustering only three wins out of ten away games in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Philippe Clement insists the damning statistics don't paint the whole picture of an unlucky new-look Rangers side ravaged by injuries and undone by questionable refereeing.
With up to eight Rangers players set to miss the clash against Dundee, the Rangers manager has his work cut out to pick a starting XI never mind pick up a victory.
Injury-ravaged Rangers to line up in Dundee
Rangers will be without Jack Butland for the trip to Dens Park, Liam Kelly expected to come in and deputise in the place of the Ibrox goalkeeper.
Kelly lambasted his Rangers teammates for their unacceptable defending in the 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw with Hibs and will be hoping to keep a clean sheet against Dundee.
Philippe Clement also revealed that the club's injury crisis in defence shows no signs of abating, with Dujon Sterling set to undergo a late fitness test for the match at Dens.
We don't think the ex-Chelsea defender will be risked.
It means Sterling will join James Tavernier, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Leon Balogun on the sidelines against Dundee.
Balogun was expected to return for Rangers but suffered a setback after being rushed back into the team.
An unconventional back four is then guaranteed, with Philippe Clement hoping for 'positive surprises' a la Ridvan Yilmaz against Dundee.
We expect the Turkish international to start at right-back, with Leon King partnering Robin Propper at centre-half and Jefte completing the back four at left-back.
The pressure will be on Leon King, who finds himself out of favour at Rangers, after the defender was outmuscled for Rocky Bashiri's equaliser at Easter Road.
Should the centre-back start the match, it will be his first start since kicking off the 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw with Hearts at the end of last season in May 2024.
In midfield Rangers have their causalities too.
Perennially injured high-earner Tom Lawrence remains out whilst Ibrox enforcer Nicolas Raskin, who has been on superb form as of late, is suspended for the trip to Dundee.
Scotland hopeful Connor Barron is expected to come back into the side for his first start since Aberdeen went public with their frustrations over a transfer tribunal.
We predict Mohamed Diomande will then partner the 22-year-old with resurgent Albanian playmaker Nedim Bajrami to continue in his preferred 'number ten' role.
We reckon resurgent Romanian Ianis Hagi will start off the left, with Czech winger Vaclav Cerny expected to go to the well again in Dundee.
Rangers will also start with man of the moment Hamza Igamane in the number nine berth as the Gers look to record only their fourth away win of a troublesome campaign.
Rangers predicted XI v Dundee (Scottish Premiership)
GK – Liam Kelly
DR – Ridvan Yilmaz
DC – Robin Propper
DC – Leon King
DL – Jefte
CM – Connor Barron
CM – Mohamed Diomande
CAM – Nedim Bajrami
RW – Vaclav Cerny
LW – Ianis Hagi
ST – Hamza Igamane
