Todd Cantwell axed, 5 debuts – Confirmed Rangers XI v Kilmarnock
Michael Beale has handed 6 players their Rangers debut for the opening SPFL game of the season against Kilmarnock, the club have announced.
Todd Cantwell is left on the bench for the game as all of Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers all start the game at Rugby Park.
Jose Cifuentes, Leon Balogun and Danilo are named on the bench as is exit-linked Rabbi Matondo, but there is no place for Dujon Sterling. Kemar Roofe also returns to the match-day squad.
3 points please
It’s been a weird pre-season for Rangers so far, because off the pitch things couldn’t have gone much better but on the pitch we’ve been average.
Beale has made his decision with the lineup with the vast majority of players available, so this is clearly what he considers to be his strongest starting lineup or close to it.
It will be interesting to see how the new-look attack works together while the defence will need to be at it’s best to ensure that Kilmarnock’s fans are kept quiet at Rugby Park.
Ultimately the most important thing will be to seal all three points and start the season with a win, especially with Celtic starting their season with an emphatic 4-2 win.
Put a statement down and make it clear that we’re serious this season with a big performance and all three points to head back to Glasgow with ahead of midweek’s huge Champions League game.
In other Rangers news, shock inclusion in UEFA squad list as six senior stars left out by Michael Beale.