Philippe Clement to field select XI as new Rangers game organised within days
A Hearts select team will take on a Rangers XI this week after a meeting between the pair was organised, according to the Daily Record.
The publication reported on its website on Monday (23 October) that the match will kickstart a run of three games in quick succession between the Edinburgh outfit and the Glasgow side.
Rangers host Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (29 October) before their Scottish League Cup semi-final meeting at Hampden on 5 November.
“A Hearts select team will face off against a Rangers XI this week teeing up a run of three out of four games for the Jambos against their Glasgow rivals,” according to the Daily Record.
“Both Steven Naismith and Philippe Clement will use the encounter to give those lacking game time minutes with the Ibrox first team heading to the Czech Republic to take on Sparta Prague in their Europa League crunch.”
Familiar foe
Rangers and Hearts have enjoyed many battles over the years, with the former largely coming out on top. And their rivalry looks set to continue in the coming weeks, with new Rangers manager Clement getting his first taste of action against the Edinburgh club.
The Belgian has already proven he is up to the task when it comes to sides from the capital, with the Gers smashing Hibernian 4-0 in his first match in charge on Saturday (21 October).
Ibrox was in full voice for the league clash, with supporters getting fully behind their new boss after the sacking of Michael Beale.
All of his focus will now turn to Europe, with the Scottish side travelling to the Czech Republic to take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League group stages on Thursday (26 October).
His fringe players will be given a chance to impress against a Hearts select team, but the priority will be on his first-team stars as they look to pick up some more points in Europe.
In other Rangers news, Hibernian staff raged at a Clement incident in their 4-0 loss to the Gers, according to a BBC Sport journalist.