Rangers v Celtic: Breaking injury news shared from Parkhead by Sky Sports reporter
Connor Goldson is missing from the Rangers squad to face Celtic at Parkhead because he suffered a hip injury on the eve of the game, Luke Shanley reports.
The centre back was a surprise exclusion from the starting XI with John Souttar coming in to replace him, and it is down to a new 11th-hour injury issue that he is out.
Nico Raskin has been named in the line-up, after Michael Beale revealed in his pre-match press conference that he had trained all week, but the positive news has been counterbalanced by the negative development on Goldson.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Shanley said (8 April, 11.38am): “The noticeable absentee is Connor Goldson, he picked up a hip injury in training yesterday.”
Blow
There is no way to dress this up as anything other than a major and unexpected knock to Rangers in what is a crucial game.
The defender had already sparked concern for Kris Boyd with his downbeat comments ahead of the game, but worse than him seeming negative is him not playing at all.
Thankfully there is an experienced SPFL replacement in Souttar, but the former Hearts man’s own injury problems this season mean he has barely played in a Light Blues shirt.
Now would be a fantastic time for him to announce himself as a going concern at the club as Beale looks to record a first win over Celtic at the third attempt.
The manager has learned from his mistakes in the previous meeting by naming both Todd Cantwell and Raskin in the XI, with Malik Tillman also involved, so there should be plenty of dynamism going forward.
But all eyes will be on Souttar at the back, and the effect the change might have on Ben Davies alongside him, when the first whistle blows.
In other Rangers news, two players “will depart” Ibrox according to a BBC Sport man.