Daniel Feliciano

Sat 8 April 2023 9:10, UK

Michael Beale is likely to make a bold decision in his Rangers starting lineup when they face Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday lunchtime (8 April).

The Gers have won their last ten league games in a row, but Beale is yet to taste victory in an Old Firm derby since returning to Ibrox in November, losing one and drawing the other.

But as the club look to cut the gap at the top to six points in order to keep their title dreams alive, Beale is likely to shuffle his team around and make some major decisions with his team.

Allan McGregor is the undisputed number one despite question marks around his future at the club, and he will start in goal.

The boss has clearly got a preferred back four too, and despite some suggestions they could switch to a back three after working on it in training, it seems far more likely he will stick with what he knows best.

That should see James Tavernier and Borna Barisic take the full-back positions, while Connor Goldson and Ben Davies will continue their partnership in the middle despite the return to fitness of John Souttar.

The Viaplay Cup final is remembered by most for the poor midfield showing of Glen Kamara and John Lundstram, and that means neither player is likely to start.

Nicolas Raskin is fit and will surely come into the side for Beale, and he should be partnered by Ryan Jack with the two forming a good understanding in recent games together.

Further forward, it seems crazy to think that Todd Cantwell won’t get the nod to help fill in that midfield and link with the attack following his impact in that cup final as a substitute and in subsequent games since his arrival in January.

Ryan Kent is almost certain to start behind the striker, floating to the wings to create and dictate the game in Rangers’ final third to keep Celtic honest, but there are question marks around who could join him.

Alfredo Morelos and Antonio Colak have battled for the number nine position all season, but neither have really convinced Beale that they’re the man to take this team forward.

That makes it very possible that Beale goes with both men on the bench and opts for both Malik Tillman and Fashion Sakala Jr in his starting line up.

Both players are capable of playing out wide or through the middle, but Sakala is more natural as the most advanced attacker and is more likely to start as the number nine, with Tillman floating behind him.

In other Rangers news, a twice-capped international goalkeeper is a free transfer target for this summer.