“I’m surprised” – Former Ger thinks Gio is making a defensive mistake

Rangers defence has been one area of the park that has actually looked in pretty good shape so far this season, domestically we have been good at limiting chances for teams and controlling games with a well-organised press and shape in transition.

Borna Barisic has kept his place with Ridvan Yilmaz still settling in and, with John Souttar out injured, James Sands looks to have put himself in pole position to partner the ever-present Connor Goldson.

One player who used to have that title is Niko Katic, who has gone from a regular starter to nowhere near the squad, Leon King is now ahead of him in the queue making the Croatian international about the sixth choice if you include Filip Helander.

Speaking to Football Insider, Alan Hutton is surprised that Katic has been deemed surplus to requirements:

“It’s always a bit of back and forth when fees are trying to be put out there.

“You kind of feel for him, he’s been through some difficult times with injuries. I thought he would get an opportunity this season, for whatever reason it’s not worked out.

“I think, when you watch the defence at this moment in time it doesn’t look like there’s a certain pairing at the back for Rangers. It’s [Connor] Goldson plus one. [James] Sands has come in, [Ben] Davies has come in and they’ve switched about so there is opportunity there.

“I’m surprised that he was happy just to let him leave when I don’t really see a first pairing come to the fore and stand out at this moment.“

For Katic, it comes down to a couple of attributes; passing and concentration.

At his best he is immense – think Legia Warsaw at Ibrox – but at his worst, he’s more of a hindrance than a help, and it is his problem with consistency that was always his biggest issue.

Sands, Davies and Souttar all have one trait in common and that’s their ability to play out from the back, one-touch passing or comfortable dribbling the ball, that just isn’t Katic’s game, however, we could’ve done with him on Saturday when we needed someone to take a half volley in the face in the 92nd minute.