Aaron Ramsey starts, Kemar Roofe out – Predicted Europa League final Rangers XI v Frankfurt
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has got big decisions to make for the biggest game in recent memory when Rangers face Frankfurt in the Europa League final.
The light blues have had the benefit of being able to rest their stars over the last two weeks with the title race over, but some performances may have given the manager a headache about whether they have forced their way in.
Add to that some players are fighting to recover from injury, and another cup final a few days later against Hearts and it makes it tough to call. Here is the Ibrox News predicted starting line-up for the Europa League final between Rangers and Frankfurt.
One position not in doubt is that of goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who has been rested in the league since the semi-final second leg but will come back in between the sticks as the undisputed number one for the club.
In defence, the right-hand side selects itself too. Captain James Tavernier is the competition’s top goalscorer heading into the final and has been at his influential best for the side and will continue at right-back, while Connor Goldson will continue in the heart of the defence.
His partner in the middle will also decide who plays at left-back, with Calvin Bassey having the ability to play in either position. But with Leon Balogun’s poor form in recent weeks, the younger Nigerian is likely to play in the centre with Croatian Borna Barisic coming in on the left.
In midfield, Ryan Jack is battling to be fit but Van Bronckhorst is likely to take a risk by selecting him from the start.
The Scotland international has been influential since returning from injury earlier this season and is one of the first names on the team sheet with his ability to break up play and dictate tempo from deep.
Alongside him will be John Lundstram, who has seen his Rangers career completely flip on it’s head since the turn of the year with a series of stunning performances earning him a starting spot with the ability to shift into defence if the manager chooses to adapt.
Ahead of them should see plenty of pace and technique, capable of carving open defences or simply dancing past them.
Joe Aribo should return to his inside right position after being played as a false nine against Leipzig, allowing him a bit more space to create and get on the ball more regularly.
On the left Ryan Kent is a guaranteed starter if fit, such is his influence on the team and ability on the pitch with some dazzling dribbling and a great football brain.
Aaron Ramsey has struggled with injury since joining the club in January, but this is the type of game that he was brought in for and he should get the nod in his favoured number ten position where he can link the midfield and attack while arriving late into the box.
Up front Alfredo Morelos is out injured and Kemar Roofe is battling to be fit and has travelled after picking up an injury in the quarter-final win last month. After not being able to get any minutes in, it’s unlikely that the boss will take that risk.
That leaves the door open for Amad Diallo, Scott Wright or Fashion Sakala to lead the line. Despite the excellent form of the former two in recent weeks, it should be Sakala who gets the nod.
His pace, direct running and finishing ability have been on show this season and he deserves the nod having already performed in big games such as against Celtic.
Predicted Rangers XI vs Frankfurt: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram; Aribo, Ramsey, Kent; Sakala
In other Rangers news, Alan Hutton names two Rangers aces that are key to Rangers Europa League final success