Michael Beale faces midfield injury crisis – Rangers predicted XI v Livingston
Rangers manager Michael Beale could be set to make a number of changes to his starting line-up to take on Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday (18 February).
The Gers arrive into the game on the back of their action-packed Scottish Cup victory over Partick Thistle, which eventually saw Beale’s side come out 3-2 victors thanks to a late winner.
After his press conference on Thursday (16 February), Beale revealed he wasn’t 100% sure who was going to be fully fit for the weekend’s clash, with a few players carrying knocks.
Beale has enjoyed rotating his goalkeepers since taking up the job at Rangers, but Allan McGregor should be given the nod ahead of Jon McLaughlin after impressing in the Scottish Cup last time out.
In defence, the manager has few concerns and will likely field his strongest possible back-four. Despite missing a penalty against Partick, James Tavernier will start at right-back and look to put that mistake behind him.
Connor Goldson and Ben Davies will re-unite in the heart of the Gers’ defence after the former was left out of the cup tie with a minor calf strain. Together the dup have formed a strong partnership and have quickly become Beale’s go-to centre-backs.
At left-back, Borna Barisic remains ahead of Adam Devine in the pecking order and will continue his run in the team. The Croatian left-back will be a key cog not just in defence but also with his overlapping runs and ability to impact play in the final third.
Beale faces somewhat of an injury crisis in midfield, with the manager confirming that January signing Nicolas Raskin was yet to train so far this week due to fatigue but would return for one training session before the weekend, while John Lundstram remains “touch and go”.
The manager also revealed Ryan Jack had also picked up a knock last week, so Beale may be forced to draft James Sands into midfield alongside despite usually playing as a centre-back. He will pair up beside the ever-impressive Glen Kamara in the middle of the park if Raskin is deemed unfit to start following his fatigue.
In attack, Ianis Hagi will likely be dropped back down to the bench after making his first start for a year in the cup, with Ryan Kent coming back into the team in his stead.
The winger’s return to the starting XI should see Todd Cantwell shifted back to the left wing, with Fashion Sakala forced to wait in the wings on the bench.
Malik Tillman continues to impress under Beale thus far and will keep his position in the central midfield attacking position. He will look to get in the headlines for the right reason this weekend after scoring a highly-controversial goal in the 3-2 over Partick.
Up top, Alfredo Morelos will continue to lead the line despite Antonio Colak finding the back of the net last time out.
Rangers predicted XI v Livingston: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Kamara, Sands; Tillman, Kent, Cantwell; Morelos
In other Rangers news, one Bears star took to social media to mock criticism from a Sky Sports pundit