View: Van Bronckhorst to wield axe, ten changes – Rangers predicted XI vs Dundee
Rangers will have one eye on their Europa League last 16 second leg clash when they travel to take on Dundee in the Scottish Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
The Bears earned a 3-0 win at Ibrox on Thursday night, but a second leg in hostile Belgrade awaits in midweek and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will likely use this game as a chance to rest some first-team regulars.
That should see plenty of fringe players afforded an opportunity to impress and force their way into the side, if not for that game, then for the rest of the season as they chase a second consecutive title.
John McLaughlin hasn’t played since the last round of the cup and he should return once again having kept a clean sheet against Annan Athletic.
Borna Barisic was on the bench on Thursday but should come into the side at left-back, with January signing Mateusz Zukowski potentially getting the nod on the right once again.
In the centre of defence, American James Sands should slot in alongside Filip Helander who is ineligible to play in Europe for the remainder of the season.
In midfield the veteran Steven Davis should get a recall to the team after several games missing, while Glen Kamara should be the only man to keep his place to provide extra strength in midfield.
Ahead of him, Amad Diallo was on the bench in midweek but didn’t feature so should get the nod on the wing in order to get some match sharpness back while Fashion Sakala can stake his claim for a starting role from the opposite flank.
Superstar Welsh international Aaron Ramsey is fit again after picking up an injury in the last round and could get some minutes to try and force his way into Van Bronckhorst’s thinking in a more advanced midfield role.
Up front, Alfredo Morelos will get a well-deserved break and Kemar Roofe should be given the opportunity after his goal against Aberdeen last week brought him in from the cold.
Predicted Rangers XI: McLaughlin; Barisic, Helander, Sands, Zukowski; Davis, Kamara; Amad, Ramsey, Sakala; Roofe
In other Rangers news, ‘Numpties’ – Derek McInnes hits out after ‘Outstanding’ Rangers player incident v Red Star