Nasser Djiga ditched – Rangers predicted XI vs Hibernian as Russell Martin pressure grows
Rangers take on Hibernian in a crucial Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday, and for Russell Martin, it is a must-win game.
Rangers fans have already planned protests at Ibrox ahead of the game, as they demand that Martin and Patrick Stewart leave following a dismal start to the season.
Rangers have failed to win any of their first five league games, and the cup could be their best chance of silverware this season already.
Martin will need to change his line-up and even his tactics if he is to spark a revival in form, but he has several new options to pick from.
Nasser Djiga to be dropped from Rangers XI
Nasser Djiga has been a disastrous signing so far, and with Derek Cornelius joining on deadline day, his time in the starting line-up is now surely at an end.
Cornelius could come straight in for Djiga, with John Souttar moving to his more naturally suited side at right centre-back, in a key defensive change.
Djiga has been at fault for several goals this season, and did not cover himself in glory in Lawrence Shankland’s controversial opener for Hearts.
Martin now has to start his two most experienced centre-backs in Souttar and Cornelius, who can hopefully steady the ship in a tough environment.
Nicolas Raskin may not return for Rangers
Fans would love nothing more than to see Nicolas Raskin return to the starting lineup, but after he was omitted against Hearts, Martin could continue to freeze him out of the squad.
Martin is only making himself more unpopular with this treatment of Raskin, and given that his decision-making has been completely wrong so far, another one appears likely.
Further up the pitch, the underperforming Mikey Moore could be dropped, with Djeidi Gassama moving over to the left and Oliver Antman coming in on the right.
Bojan Miovski will start up top again, despite any pressure from fellow signing Youssef Chermiti.
Rangers predicted XI vs Hibernian: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Barron, Diomande, Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama, Miovski.
Russell Martin faces midfield problem
Unless he brings Raskin back, Martin faces a dilemma over how to set his midfield up, with Mohamed Diomande set to play alongside Connor Barron and Thelo Aasgaard in the middle.
Diomande was woeful defensively against Hearts and was at fault for the first goal as he failed to track back properly, but the alternatives are worse.
Joe Rothwell has had a terrible start at Rangers despite arriving as one of the more experienced players in the squad, leaving Barron as the alternative.
Aasgaard is more naturally suited to a central midfield role rather than as a number 10, but without Raskin, any setup will be inferior to one with the Belgian star running the show in the middle.
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