Borna Barisic cannot start for Rangers vs Celtic amid doubts around Ridvan Yilmaz injury
Borna Barisic should not start for Rangers if Ridvan Yilmaz isn’t fit to face Celtic, according to Derek Ferguson.
The former Ibrox favourite believes the Croatian full-back doesn’t respond well to the psychological pressure of an Old Firm derby based on difficulties he’s had in this fixture over the past few seasons.
There are doubts around whether Turkey defender Yilmaz will be able to feature after picking up an injury during the international break, with Philippe Clement indicating he wasn’t sure in his prematch press conference on Friday (5 April).
So if the 22-year-old doesn’t make it then Ferguson would rather see the “superb” Dujon Sterling take up the left-back role on Sunday, although in an ideal world the utility man would be most effective in midfield.
He exclusively told Ibrox News: “I don’t think it’s a fixture for Barisic. I don’t need to back myself up in terms of that. Because over the course of the last couple of seasons mentally he doesn’t handle it well.
“I’m not saying that Barisic is not a good player but this fixture brings huge pressure, and I don’t think Barisic deals with it well.
“If Yilmaz is fit he should go straight in there. If not, and there are doubts about him, certainly Sterling for me could go in there. Sterling’s been superb. He’s played a whole range of different positions.
“He did play there, if I recall, last Saturday against Hibs, he went in there for the last 10-15 minutes and did it seamlessly, not a problem.
“Preferably I hope Yilmaz is fit, that would be a bonus, because certainly having Sterling in my starting XI I’d have him in the middle of the park.”
Dujon Sterling tipped for Rangers full-back role if Ridvan Yilmaz out
Ferguson won’t be the only Gers supporter wary of having Barisic in the starting line-up against Brendan Rodgers’ side after some high-profile defeats in recent years, particularly at Parkhead.
Sterling has shown himself to be a strong contributor wherever Philippe Clement has utilised him this season, but a lot of complications would seemingly be solved if Yilmaz is fit to start, as a recent update had suggested.
Injury issues have plagued the Rangers campaign but Abdallah Sima is fit to feature so it would come as a hugely-welcome boost to the supporters if the full-back recovers in time as well.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have decided not to let an exit-linked first-team player leave the club.
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