Rangers v Cove Rangers – Two debuts as Gerrard fields new look side, predicted XI

At last, the international break is over and after watching Scotland play Israel for the 34th time in two years we can get back to club business and the return of domestic football.

Up next for Rangers is Rangers, of the Cove variety, and the welcome resumption of the Scottish Cup that gives Steven Gerrard the chance to win a league and cup double for the first time in his managerial career in what would be a fitting end to a remarkable season.

The gaffer will still be without Ryan Jack and James Tavernier but he will be able to play the suspended trio of Calvin Bassey, Bongani Zungu and, more importantly, Nathan Patterson after Rangers appealed their bans.

The latter will be guaranteed to start rather than sitting out the next four games, his absence could have forced Gerrard’s hand when it came to right-back, personally though, rather than the obvious selection of Leon Balogun, who is just back from international duty with Nigeria, I would have given Leon King his first start for the club if Patterson wasn’t available.

This is the XI I think Gerrard will go with as we look to continue our domestic dominance:

Connor Goldson will skipper the side and Jack Simpson should start alongside him, it will be good to see what he can offer over 90 minutes. this will also allow Balogun and Filip Helander an extra day or two off after their international exertions.

Borna Barisic played enough time for Croatia to keep him sharp but without being run into the ground so, he should be good to go, behind him there is no reason why Jon McLaughlin shouldn’t be given the chance between the sticks, the more rest for Allan McGregor the better.

Midfield is harder to call but Scott Arfield wasn’t away with Canada which should see him start, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Ianis Hagi play a deeper and more attacking midfield role, like Barisic, he played for his country but not every minute of every game. With Zungu available, it will be interesting to see if Glen Kamara and Steven Davis are rested, again, he’s another player I’d like to see over 90 minutes.

I’d also expect Gerrard to start Cedric Itten and Scott Wright, Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe might not be entirely happy with losing out on the chance to up their goals tally but they can be kept for bigger tests, however, given Roofe’s lack of game time recently, he might get 45 minutes from the start with Jermain Defoe playing the other half.

Intensity from the start and a high press are key, Cove will be up for it but they simply don’t possess the same quality even if some of our big guns are missing – bare minimum – this should be 4-0.