Ridvan Yilmaz doubt, John Lundstram fit – Confirmed Rangers team news v Livingston
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Ridvan Yilmaz is a doubt for Rangers through injury for their clash with Livingston on Saturday.
The left-back made a rare start in the cup win over Dundee in midweek, but picked up a knock on his knee and is now a doubt for the weekend SPFL fixture.
The manager revealed in his press conference [21 October] that the rest of the squad is as it was, with John Lundstram passed fit despite a knock while Connor Goldson remains a long-term absentee who won’t return before the World Cup break.
“I’m hopeful after the World Cup break we will see Connor (Goldson) return,” he said.
“Lundstram is okay, we have done scans and he is fit.
“Ridvan had a knock on his knee and we will assess him for tomorrow, our only fresh doubt. A short-term one if misses out.”
Another blow
Defensively Rangers are down to the bare bones and it means that the defence essentially selects itself right now.
James Tavernier is a guaranteed starter at right-back and with Yilmaz injured now it means Borna Barisic is essentially guaranteed his spot on the left too.
James Sands is competing with Ben Davies and Leon King for a centre-back role, and that’s it, with everyone else out injured.
It’s a huge blow for Rangers as they look to keep pace with Celtic in the title race, while also giving the manager very little option if players don’t perform or the team needs different options.
For Yilmaz it’s a blow too, as he had been hoping to finally get a run in the first-team owing to the issues with Barisic’s form, but that seems unlikely to come this weekend now.
It’s good news on Lundstram in midfield though as he continues to be a key member of the squad, while having a return date in mind for Goldson is also good news following so many different reports about his injury.
In other Rangers news, Ross Wilson could use his contacts to sign five free agents this summer