‘Would be astonishing’ – Sky pundit tips Rangers fringe player to play v Accies, predicts result
Andy Walker predicts Rangers will continue their winning streak in the Scottish Premiership by beating Hamilton Accies 2-0 at Ibrox on Sunday.
Steven Gerrard’s men saw their nine-match winning run come to an end on Thursday when they let slip of a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with 10-man Benfica in the Europa League.
But in the final match before the last international break of 2020, ex-Celtic player Walker has tipped Rangers to earn a comfortable victory over Brian Rice’s side, adding that he expects to see Jermain Defoe play.
“Like Celtic, the games just keep coming for Steven Gerrard’s men,” Walker wrote on the Sky Sports website. “Changes will undoubtedly be made for this one too after the exertions of Europa League action in Lisbon on Thursday night against Benfica. Jermain Defoe scored in the last home match against Livingston, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him involved again.
“Accies don’t have the biggest of squads and injuries are taking their toll on the options available to Brian Rice. David Templeton and Kyle Munro have already been ruled out and Charlie Trafford joins them on the long-term injury list with a broken ankle. Like St Mirren, Accies haven’t played for 19 days, it would be astonishing if they got anything here.”
Defoe scored an absolute stunner against Livingston in the last Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox and with Alfredo Morelos starting the last two matches, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the veteran Englishman start this weekend.
He’s been on the fringes of Gerrard’s squad in the early stages of this season.
Not only was the 38-year-old not named in Rangers’ Europa League squad, but he’s also played just three times in the league and two of those appearances were as a substitute.
When he started against Livi last month, Defoe was outstanding so we agree with Walker that he should start against Hamilton this weekend.
Morelos is starting to rediscover his form so you can make an argument for him starting again.
But with him due to join up with the Colombia squad and undergo a lot of travelling, you can understand why he might be rested.
In other Rangers news, Borussia Dortmund want to sign this Gers ace.