Rangers: Three players who must step up before the season ends at Ibrox including Connor Barron
Rangers’ title hopes were crushed following the defeat at Tynecastle, and while Champions League football is there to be won, Danny Rohl could utilise his fringe players more now.
Second place in the Scottish Premiership will have a pathway into Europe’s premier competition, with that side entering into the second qualifying round.
It means that there is still plenty on the line and makes ending the season with three wins out of three all the more crucial.
However, throughout this period, while Rohl should not make wholesale changes to his starting lineup with Champions League on the mind, it could open the door for a few to gain added minutes.
Ahead of Rangers’ transfer window, there could be plenty of incomings and outgoings, and the final three games of the season will say quite a lot about many in Rohl’s squad.
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Oliver Antman fighting for Rangers future
Oliver Antman has found his game time under Rohl extremely limited, and even with Rangers chasing a goal against Hearts, the German did not turn to the Finnish international.
Throughout the season, Antman has started just six matches and made 14 appearances in the Scottish Premiership.
| Oliver Antman for Rangers this season in SPFL | Total |
| Minutes per goal contribution | 144.5 |
| Key passes per game | 1.4 |
| Big chances created | 3 |
However, four of those starts and seven of those fixtures arrived before Rohl took over as Bears manager.
His future at Ibrox certainly looks in question, and the 37-year-old’s decision-making over the forthcoming three games will tell a lot more about his future.
If he continues to be snubbed, then fans should believe it is a foregone conclusion he will part ways in the upcoming window.
It seems hard to forge a path back with his trust under Rohl clearly in tatters despite a long-term contract but if handed the chance, he must step up.
John Souttar eyeing return to first-choice
The partnership of Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga has cast John Souttar aside, but with Djiga only on loan, there could be a way back for the centre-back.
Ahead of facing Hearts, Rohl did confirm that Souttar had sustained an injury but that he “thinks it should be OK.”
So the 29-year-old should be back in contention for a few of the final games of the season, and he could be handed a chance to revive his Ibrox career.
There is no confirmation of who Rangers’ centre-back pairing will be next season, but Souttar could boost his chances.
Connor Barron looking to return to high placement in pecking order
In Rohl’s opening months in charge, Barron had made himself a useful player for the German, earning himself plenty of starts.
In the first 13 league games of Roh’s tenure, the 23-year-old started in eight of them.
However, his run in the team was then cut short by a knee injury. Since returning back to fitness, the young midfielder has yet to start again, making appearances off the bench instead.
The final three matches of the season could be a good moment to put Barron back into the mix, with Rohl proving to be a fan earlier in the campaign.
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