Confirmed: Fashion Sakala Jr, Tom Lawrence and Ridvan Yilmaz ruled out of Rangers clash v Kilmarnock
Michael Beale has confirmed Rangers will be without four players for the opening SPFL clash of the season against Kilmarnock.
The boss was speaking in his press conference ahead of the game at Rugby Park and revealed that left-back Ridvan Yilmaz picked up a strain in training today (4 August) and won’t be available for the clash.
He also revealed that Fashion Sakala won’t be involved, with the Zambian winger already told he doesn’t have a future at Ibrox and a move to Saudi Arabia on the cards. Tom Lawrence is also continuing to recover from his long-term injury.
“Fashion Jr will not be involved tomorrow with the squad,” he said.
“We have lost Ridvan today to a strain, other than that everyone else is available.
Connor Goldson trained and will return tomorrow to the squad. Tom Lawrence is continuing to recover.”
The boss also revealed that exit-linked central defender Ben Davies will miss out, although Leon King and John Souttar are also available.
Expected
The absence of Ridvan is a blow but also has come to be expected considering the amount of injuries he got last season, and it was already clear that Sakala wouldn’t be playing.
It’s also been reported already that Glen Kamara won’t feature in the game as he looks to seal a move away from Ibrox, but other than that the boss has a full selection of players to choose from.
With nine first-team signings at Rangers this summer there is potential to see a very new team, but the likelihood is that most changes will come in attack.
Connor Goldson is seemingly fit to return despite only returning to training this week, and he could be partnered by Leon Balogun, while the manager has a decision to make up front with all of Cyriel Dessers, Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers and Danilo pushing for their debuts.
It’s a new season and a fresh start for Rangers, and we must start with a win to show how we mean to go on as we push for number 56.
In other Rangers news, Euro clubs have tabled a £2.7m offer for one Ibrox ace.