Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sat 18 April 2026 7:10, UK

Youssef Chermiti doesn’t make my combined Rangers and Motherwell XI ahead of Sunday’s big game at Ibrox.

Danny Rohl‘s side begin their Scottish Premiership post-split run-in with a visit of Motherwell on Sunday.

Rangers are in the midst of a four-game winning run in the league, with the forward line in particular scoring goals for fun.

Indeed, Gers have hit the back of the net a whopping 14 times across their last three league fixtures, but have also shipped six goals in that time period too, as they look to keep the pressure on Hearts before their visit to Tynecastle.

So, ahead of Rangers’ clash with Motherwell on Sunday, I’ve decided to piece together a combined XI between the two sides, with inclusions selected based on what they’ve done this season.

Nasser Djiga gets a spot in Rangers and Motherwell combined XI

Starting from defence and working up through midfield and attack, let’s start building the team from the back.

In between the sticks, I’ve given the nod to Motherwell’s Calum Ward over Jack Butland, with the former keeping a league-leading 17 clean sheets this season.

Ward has been the best goalkeeper in the Scottish Premiership for me this season, and whilst Butland has been largely good for Rangers, he has also made a number of mistakes too.

At right-back, it’s a bit of a no-brainer to go with James Tavernier here, as the 34-year-old has bagged eight goals and registered four assists, and is still playing at a ridiculously good level for a player of his age.

On the other flank, I’ve gone with Emmanuel Longelo, who has been superb for Motherwell this season scoring six times and providing four assists in 31 league games.

Jayden Meghoma has lost his grip on a starting role since Tuur Rommens’ arrival, and I can’t really go with the Belgian either as he’s made just six league appearances.

As for my centre-back pairing, this was actually pretty tough for who gets in alongside the obvious inclusion of Emmanuel Fernandez.

Veteran Paul McGinn has had a good season for the Well, as has Stephen Welsh on loan from Celtic, meanwhile Rangers’ other candidates are John Souttar and Nasser Djiga.

For me, I’ve been really impressed with Djiga this season, and I believe he’s banked more consistently good performances than Souttar, so I’ve gone with him here, but all of these players have solid arguments to be in too.

Djeidi Gassama makes midfield in Rangers/Motherwell XI

Now crossing into midfield, this part of the team largely picks itself in my opinion.

Starting with my two central midfielders, I’ve gone with a pairing of Nicolas Raskin and Elliot Watt, with the former once again reaffirming himself as one of the best players in the league, and the latter being arguably Motherwell’s player of the season.

On the left, I’ve actually gone with Callum Slattery here over Mikey Moore.

For as good as Moore has been for Rangers this season, I just struggle to justify including him over Slattery, who has produced three goals and eight assists in 26 league games this term, and has seen plenty of playing time on the left wing.

Overall, I just think Slattery has had the better and more consistent season by way of performances and production, so he just edges in over the superbly talented teenager.

On the right I’ve gone with Djeidi Gassama, with Ibrahim Said being his main rival here, but the Nigerian has scored just three times and produced zero assists in 33 league games, whereas the Gers man has two goals and five assists from the same number.

Then in the number 10 position, for me, this was a no-brainer to include a player who I believe has been one of the very best in the division this season, and that’s Elijah Just.

Motherwell star leads the line in combined Rangers XI

Finishing off this combined Rangers and Motherwell XI, we need to put the cherry on top with our striker.

This spot was only ever going to be a two-horse race between Chermiti and Tawanda Maswanhise, and both players deserve to be in for the season’s they’ve had.

However, I can only go with one, and so for me, that has to be Maswanhise.

The 23-year-old has fired home 17 times in 30 games for the Steelmen with three of them being penalties, whereas Chermiti has netted 11 times.

Full Rangers/Motherwell combined XI: GK Ward, RB Tavernier, LB Longelo, CB’s Fernandez, Djiga; CM’s Watt, Raskin, LW Slattery, RW Gassama, CAM Just; ST Maswanhise

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