Glasgow Rangers players (back L-R) Rangers' Croatian defender Borna Barisic, Rangers' German-born Croatian striker Antonio Colak, Rangers' English defender Ben Davies, Rangers' English defender Connor Goldson, Rangers' Scottish midfielder Ryan Jack, Rangers' Scottish goalkeeper Allan McGregor, (L-R) Rangers' Zambian striker Fashion Sakala, Rangers' English midfielder John Lundstram, Rangers' English defender James Tavernier, Rangers' Canadian-Scottish midfielder Scott Arfield and Rangers' English midfielder Ryan Kent pose for a group picture before the UEFA Champions League Group A football match between Glasgow Rangers and Liverpool at the Ibrox Stadium, in Glasgow, on October 12, 2022. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Rangers head to Motherwell with an injury crisis in full force, as Ibrox Noise summarises who’s available, who isn’t, and what we truly have at our disposal as we try to put this dreadful week behind us.
Goals are simple enough, McGregor, McLaughlin, and McCrorie are great, but we’d like to see McCrorie make an appearance soon.
The turmoil begins with defence. We don’t have Connor Goldson, John Souttar, or Filip Helander, and Ben Davies is still a question mark. Gio ‘expects’ him to appear tomorrow, but he doesn’t seem very certain. Davies suffered an injury in the middle of the week.
We have James Sands and Leon King for sure. It’s not exactly easy pickings.
We are one injury away from having to rely on Adam Devine at fullback, since an injured James Tavernier is our only alternative, just as Goldson was. That’s a ticking time bomb.
On the other hand, we’re a little stronger – Borna, like the rest of the team, wasn’t fantastic midweek, but he and Ridvan provide some depth.
Midfield is once again in disarray. Ryan Jack is out for a long time, Steven Davis isn’t feeling it, Glen Kamara isn’t interested, and only John Lundstram is willing to fight. We’re completely drained there. Letting Stephen Kelly leave was another mistake, but hey, that’s a strength of our board.
Wings? They are hit or miss. Ryan Kent is so far off form that it’s scarcely worth debating, and Scott Wright is no Messi, so that’s the end of the left. On the right, there’s Rabbi Matondo (who has a lot to prove), Kemar Roofe (who is a long way from match fitness), and Fashion Sakala, who is the sole bright spark in the team, demonstrating how desperate we are.
More centrally, Scott Arfield is the one who can be relied on, but he’s improving, whereas Malik Tillman’s promising start has gone considerably. Unless you want to place a massive burden on Charlie McCann’s shoulders.
First and foremost? Alfie and Tonio. That’s all.
So this is the team we will DEFINITELY have for tomorrow:
McGregor, McCrorie, McLaughlin, Tavernier, Devine, Sands, King, Barisic, Ridvan, Lundstram, Davis, Kamara, Lundstram, Arfield, McCann, Kent, Wright, Sakala, Tillman, Kent, Matondo, Colak, and Morelos are among the players who have played for the club.
It’s now a 23-man team, but rather than reducing it from 30 and selecting the best alternatives, that’s basically all there is to choose from.
Davies, Roofe, and Lowry are nearing fitness, but there are concerns about them.
So it’s not the healthiest condition, but what the heck?
