Rangers handed huge Old Firm boost as Giorgos Giakoumakis ruled out for Celtic
Rangers have been handed a major boost ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Celtic after Giorgos Giakoumakis was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The Greek striker picked up an injury during their win over St Johnstone last week and will now miss the Old Firm clash at Parkhead after failing to recover, with Ange Postecoglou confirming he can’t play.
Kyogo Furuhashi is fit again but is unlikely to be able to play 90 minutes, which could see the manager left with a decision to make and Rangers handed a big boost.
Rangers will be delighted with the news, considering they will be without their own main striker after Alfredo Morelos was ruled out for the season with a thigh problem.
The Light Blues will be keen to keep their momentum going from the game after a huge win over Braga in the Europa League on Thursday night, progressing them to the semi-finals.
Even
Rangers fans will see it as a more even playing field now after the game two weeks ago when they were forced to be without their main goal threat.
But since then they’ve brought Kemar Roofe into the frame and the Jamaica international has been in great form, scoring four in two games and having two disallowed against Braga too.
Going to Parkhead after playing 120 minutes will of course be difficult, but the momentum and adrenaline from the previous game could carry through and an early goal again could change things.
It’s a chance to completely stifle the Celtic crowd and prevent them from winning a domestic double, while also getting the fans back on side after a tough few weeks themselves and giving them a chance for a double.
The absence of Giakoumakis is a big help when it comes to the win, but without a big performance it will mean little and so they must deliver.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist runs out of superlatives for ‘unbelievable’ Rangers ace after what he did v Braga