Van Bronckhorst makes one change in confirmed Rangers XI v Celtic
The Old Firm derby is here as Rangers make the trek across Glasgow to face their old nemesis in the form of Celtic for a crucial clash in the title race.
Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has made one change to the side that were pegged back late on against Ross County as he looks to build the gap at the top back up to five points.
Kemar Roofe is trusted to lead the line in place of 25-year-old Cedric Itten, who’s been axed to the bench, where he’ll sit alongside January signing James Sands.
Deadline day marquee signing Aaron Ramsey is not in the squad to face Celtic however as van Bronckhorst confirmed on Tuesday he isn’t match fit to feature.
Another January addition in James Sands is on the bench along with Fashion Sakala and Scott Wright, both of whom are ready to change the game if needed.
Confirmed Rangers XI v Celtic: Allan McGregor, James Tavernier (C), Connor Goldson, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara, Scott Arfield, Joe Aribo, Amad Diallo, Ryan Kent, Kemar Roofe.
Complete trust
van Bronckhorst can’t turn back now, these are the 11 players he trusts the most to perform on the big occasion and now they need to repay that faith.
The attack should have no problems in troubling the Celtic backline with Kent and Diallo’s searing pace likely to stretch the full-backs to their limits.
The return of Balogun at the heart of the defence would have been a relief for all Gers fans as Bassey’s run in the team coincided with the drop off in clean sheets that are required to win league titles but the Englishman is trusted once again.
It would have also ease the worries of Connor Goldson but he will have to guide Bassey through the game to prevent too many chances hitting McGregor’s goal.
The 40-year-old came under a lot of scrutiny after the 3-3 draw with Ross County having made crucial errors that ultimately cost them the game but van Bronckhorst has publicly backed the Scot to come good again at Celtic Park.
Some thought that Sakala could have been utilised as a striker rather than Roofe or Itten but it seems logical to go with a natural number nine in a game of this magnitude.
In other Rangers news, an Italian website has made a ridiculous claim regarding Ramsey’s loan deal to Rangers from Juventus.