Cyriel Dessers recalled as Beale makes eight changes – Rangers starting XI v Greenock Morton
Michael Beale has recalled Cyriel Dessers for Rangers’ Scottish League Cup second-round tie with Greenock Morton.
The Gers show eight changes in all from their midweek 1-1 draw with Servette in Champions League qualifying, with that result sending them through to a play-off with PSV in three days’ time.
With that match in mind, Beale has made mass changes to his starting line-up, as confirmed on the club’s official Twitter page.
As well as bringing Dessers into the side, fringe player Rabbi Matondo is also given a chance to impress.
Dujon Sterling, Leon Balogun, Johnly Yfeko, Kieran Dowell, John Lundstram and Sam Lammers are also recalled to the XI, while Jack Butland retains his place in goal.
Captain James Tavernier, the hero against Servette, is not part of the matchday squad.
A welcome fixture
It has been an action-packed start to the campaign for Rangers, as is so often the case when they are involved in European qualifiers.
This is the Gers’ fifth game in a fortnight, with a huge showdown against PSV to come on Tuesday [22 August] in the home leg of their Champions League play-off qualifying tie.
This home cup clash with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton presents an opportunity to rotate between continental fixtures, and Beale has done exactly that.
While it may provide a chance to rest up some key first-team men and give other fringe players a chance to impress, it is a fixture the Glasgow giants simply cannot afford to slip-up in.
The pressure is therefore on those in the starting line-up to see Rangers through to the next round in as stress-free manner as possible, before focus can then turn to the visit of PSV.
In other Rangers news, Matondo accepts it is down to him to step up and shine at Ibrox this season.