Ibrox View: Gerrard to drop 27/yo in five changes – Rangers predicted XI v Hamilton
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is predicted to make five changes to his starting line-up for the clash against Hamilton Accies at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Scottish Premiership leaders return to league action this weekend after a 3-3 draw with Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night.
As a pretty much full-strength side was named at Estadio da Luz, we expect Gerrard to make a number of chances to rotate some key players before the upcoming international break and hand opportunities to those who are on the fringes of his squad.
Filip Helander, Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Steven Davis and Alfredo Morelos are all predicted to make way against Hamilton with Leon Balogun, Scott Arfield, Cedric Itten, Ianis Hagi and Jermain Defoe all returning to the starting line-up.
Allan McGregor is likely to keep his spot in goals behind a back-four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Balogun and Borna Barisic. Helander, 27, had quite the shocker on Thursday against Benfica and is likely to be rested so that Balogun can be handed a chance to continue his impressive form in the side.
Arfield, who’s available despite picking up a knock in Lisbon, could be partnered by Ryan Jack in the centre of the midfield with Hagi ahead of them in a more advanced role.
Itten started out wide against Kilmarnock last week and won a lot of praise from Gerrard after the match so he might start on the right with Ryan Kent on the left and Defoe up front as the lone striker.
In other Rangers news, Andy Walker has predicted the score of Rangers versus Hamilton.