The Rangers supporters will get their first proper look at Antonio Colak tonight as the powerful striker starts against Sunderland.
Over the course of the full game, the vast majority of the squad will see game time but Giovanni van Bronckhorst goes with a strong line-up to compete against Alex Neil’s newly promoted Championship Mackems.
The Gers side is as follows:
McLaughlin – Tavernier, Goldson, Katic, Barisic – Lundstram, Davis, Arfield – Wright, Colak, Kent.
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The obvious attention will be on the Croatian international striker to get an initial impression on how he performs in a Rangers jersey. Of course, the important thing is that Colak – and all the players – are ready for the competitive action in a few weeks time but it is still key that these early preparations in the practice game get off to a positive start.
Others of particular interest would be Niko Katic and Scott Wright, for different reasons.
Katic is surely now on his last chance to impress, given all that has gone before but he will be enthused to be given this latest opportunity and it is one that he has to succeed in. Whether or not that changes his short term future seems unlikely but the popular central defender will give i his all, as he always does.
On the right wing, Scott Wright finished the season well last time round and he will be out to pick up from where he left off. Additions will be arriving to compete for his position, so he has to show that he can improve, maintain consistency and show the manager that he deserves to contest his place in the team.
Kick off at the Municipal Stadium in Albufeira, in the Algarve, Portugal is at 8pm.