Antonio Colak to be axed as Giovanni van Bronckhorst fights for his job – Rangers predicted XI v St Johnstone
Giovanni van Bronckhort is likely to make some changes to his team once again as Rangers take on St Johnstone in the SPFL on Sunday afternoon.
The Gers collapsed once again in the Champions League as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Ibrox to Ajax on Tuesday (1 November), seeing them cemented as the worst side in group stage history.
But with their attentions now fully turned back to the Scottish Premiership, van Bronckhorst must get all his players firing to claim maximum points before the World Cup break later this month.
Allan McGregor fought back from the bench to claim his number one shirt back this season and will remain there, with the defeats in Europe entirely out of his control.
In defence the team is likely to pick itself, with so many first-team injuries leaving the team down to the bare bones currently.
James Tavernier will start at right-back as usual, while James Sands is likely to continue at centre-back with Leon King as Ben Davies struggles with his most recent fitness issues.
The same goes for Borna Barisic at left-back, with Ridvan Yilmaz ruled out until after the World Cup now with the injury he suffered against Aberdeen.
John Lundstram will almost certainly return to the starting lineup having missed the midweek defeat to Ajax through suspension, and Glen Kamara should also come in after returning from injury as a substitute in the defeat to the Dutch side.
Ryan Kent turned in a much improved performance against Ajax in a sign that could point to him getting back to his best, so Van Bronckhorst is likely to stick with him in the side in the hope he can play his way back into form.
Scott Arfield started in a deeper role in midweek, but the hope is that he will be able to move into his more natural advanced position for this game to provide energy and a goal threat, which could see Malik Tillman drop to the bench.
Fashion Sakala has impressed in recent games from the wing with his pace and energy, and having that on both sides is likely to be a big help to break down St Johnstone’s defensive approach to games.
Up front Antonio Colak continues to impress, but with Alfredo Morelos fit again and fighting for his future at the club the boss could give him a start to allow Colak a rest ahead of the World Cup after he was named in the provisional squad for Croatia earlier this week.
Predicted Rangers XI v St Johnstone: McGregor; Tavernier, King, Sands, Barisic; Lundstram, Kamara; Sakala, Arfield, Kent; Morelos
In other Rangers news, Simon Jordan blasts “weak” GvB after Rangers humiliation in the Champions League