Michael Beale to axe John Lundstram, Nicolas Raskin in for Celtic dress rehearsal – Rangers predicted XI vs Dundee United
Michael Beale is predicted to axe John Lundstram when Rangers face bottom side Dundee United, with Ridvan Yilmaz also dropping out.
The Gers won 4-2 at Motherwell prior to the international break, with Borna Barisic away for the birth of his first child, and January signing Nico Raskin out.
But while the return to action on 1 April comes against the SPFL strugglers, the Ibrox boss needs to get his side prepared to face Celtic a week later so the starting XI is expected to serve as a dress rehearsal for the Old Firm derby.
Raskin missed out on selection for Belgium under-21s with what he called a “small injury” on his Instagram page, from which he said would be “back soon” [as per Daily Record, 20 March].
Beale was heavily criticised for leaving the 22-year-old and fellow winter arrival Todd Cantwell out of the starting XI for the Viaplay Cup final defeat on 26 February so is sure not to make the same mistake again on 8 April.
Lundstram, so effective as he quickly became a fan-favourite in his debut Ibrox season, has been a shadow of his former self at times this year and is predicted to drop out as a result, while £5million summer signing Yilmaz [Sky Sports, 25 July] should return to the bench with Barisic expected back.
Anyone at risk of an injury is sure to be substituted as a priority but at least a half for the presumed Old Firm XI to build their understanding back up is a distinct possibility.
Allan McGregor is therefore expected to remain in goal, while the rest of the back four is unchanged with captain James Tavernier on the other side from Barisic with Ben Davies and Connor Goldson in the middle.
Cantwell was outstanding at Motherwell and joins Raskin in a midfield three, with Scotland call-up Ryan Jack anchoring.
The attacking trio of Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala either side of Antonio Colak is also predicted to remain the same, with Malik Tillman probably the most unfortunate to miss out on the starting line-up.
In other Rangers news, a controversial Ibrox figure has been blamed for a “bizarre” episode which likely cost the club millions in transfer revenue.