Credit: Imago

James Barker

Fri 1 May 2026 14:10, UK

Connor Barron’s ball-winning ability should earn him a place in Danny Rohl‘s starting lineup when Rangers take on Hearts.

The 23-year-old midfielder has endured a challenging 2025-26 season at Ibrox.

Indeed, he was sidelined from early January to mid-March after sustaining a knee injury during a game against Aberdeen back on 6 January, in which he registered two assists.

Barron was starting to build some momentum in the Rangers side at that point too, with strong performances in prior games against the likes of Celtic and Motherwell respectively.

However, he’s now back in the fold once again, and when Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Monday night, he’s got a very strong case for being in Rohl’s XI.

Why Connor Barron should start for Rangers vs Hearts

Barron has struggled to get in the Rangers team since returning from injury, having only been afforded a handful of brief cameos from the bench.

He’s appeared in five Scottish Premiership matches since his return against St Mirren on 15 March, but only two of them – that one and Falkirk respectively – have seen him be on the pitch for more than 10 minutes.

But, Rangers’ defeat to Motherwell last time out may see Rohl shake his team up at Tynecastle, especially in midfield, where Tochi Chukwuani was dragged off at half-time at Ibrox in the 3-2 loss.

Hearts are strong in the engine room, with Derek McInnes’ side being confident in possession, whilst also being just as comfortable going long as well as playing through the lines.

So, if Rangers are to prevent the Jambos from bullying Gers out of the game and taking command of things on Monday, Rohl needs his midfielders to bring bite and steel to Tynecastle.

Barron is one of their best in that regard, as per FotMob, no Rangers player has won more tackles per 90 than his 3.1 in the Scottish Premiership this season, with Nicolas Raskin his closest rival on 2.7 respectively.

He’s also third in the team for interceptions per 90 at 1.2, as well as being second for recoveries per 90 with six and third again for possession won in the final third per 90 at 0.6 respectively.

Overall this season, Barron has registered an 88.4 per cent pass success rate, has created 21 chances, played 15 successful crosses, made 18 successful dribbles, won 79 duels and made 83 defensive contributions in 24 league games.

Rohl needs to pick players he can trust against Hearts

The clash with Hearts on Monday night is the biggest game in both sides’ seasons, with the outcome sure to go a long way to deciding the fate of the Scottish Premiership title race this term.

As such, Rohl has to go to Tynecastle with a starting XI made up of players that he can hang his hat on, and if fully fit and ready to go, then Barron is one of them.

Rohl may not have had much of an opportunity to see Barron in action, but from what he will have seen on the training ground as well as his underlying numbers to inform him, he’s rarely ever let Gers down.

Would it be a gamble? Sure, and he may not be able to last the full 90 minutes, but Barron would install a calming and controlling presence in Rangers’ midfield, and would make Hearts’ job of winning the battle in the middle of the park very difficult.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.