Philippe Clement told what he must do with John Lundstram for Rangers vs Celtic Scottish Cup final
John Lundstram has to start the Scottish Cup final for Rangers against Celtic providing he is fit, Derek Ferguson has said.
The 30-year-old central midfielder sat out the Gers’ final two games of the Scottish Premiership season after being sent off for a reckless challenge on Alistair Johnston in a 2-1 defeat to the Bhoys at Celtic Park on 11 May.
Lundstram faces an uncertain future at Ibrox with the Scottish Daily Mail (14 May) writing that Lundstram is set to quit this summer amid interest from Trabzonspor.
It raises the possibility that the former Sheffield United man, who Philippe Clement said earlier this week had missed training with the cup final on the horizon, has played his last game for the club.
But former Rangers ace Ferguson, speaking to Ibrox News, said he has to play providing he is free to do so.
“Of course he starts, if he’s okay in terms of that’s not going to affect him in terms of playing,” said Ferguson.
“He’s one of our better players, he has been, he had a wee dip in form but over the course of the season, I think he’s one of the players Philippe Clement relies on.
“It was a moment of madness, I’ve been there myself, you do silly things at times, a wee rush of blood. I genuinely think he didn’t go to try and do the boy, I think he goes in with the intention to win the ball.
“The game’s played at a ferocious pace, so all it takes is a millisecond out. It was a red card, you can argue the point it costs us, it certainly didn’t help us but if he’s fit and he’s free of suspension he plays in the cup final.”
Will John Lundstram start for Rangers in Scottish Cup final vs Celtic?
At this stage it genuinely feels like the flip of a coin as to whether Lundstram starts for Rangers against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.
His “moment of madness” came in a game when he had already scored an own goal and at a time when Cyriel Dessers had just brought Clement’s side back in the game.
It wasn’t THE moment that cost Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race but it was a moment that sort of summed up why the squad couldn’t get the job done.
Clement needs players he can trust and, honestly, can you say about Lundstram in a game of such importance in the context of Rangers’ season?
In other Rangers news, a medical has been scheduled the first of at least eight summer signings.
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