The international break is over and, thankfully, we won’t have to endure another one until March next year, we can now get back to concentrating on the main task in hand – winning title number 55.
Each time players have gone away to represent their countries there has been a panic about whether or not they will return fit, injury free or have to self isolate – the Norwegian shambles across the city highlighting exactly the sort of problems that clubs have been facing.
Rangers appear to have emerged relatively unscathed with Steven Davis the only player to have suffered a minor injury, that he withdrew from Northern Ireland’s squad for “personal reasons” after being seen in training is at least encouraging for his physical condition – the Light Blues community obviously wishing him well.
Key players such as Borna Barisic and Alfredo Morelos haven’t been over worked and Ryan Jack played just two of Scotland’s fixtures, the fear was that we would have all our midfielders coming back on their last legs but they appear to have been reasonably well looked after.
Bongani Zungu got some valuable game time under his belt and has already arrived back in Glasgow but he may have to wait for his first start in Rangers colours with Aberdeen the next team to visit Ibrox on Sunday, Steven Gerrard will choose between Jack, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara to join Scott Arfield, who has enjoyed an invaluable rest period.
It has been a bonus having as many as seven of the first choice XI staying at home, eight if the gaffer decides to go with Cedric Itten on the right-hand side of the attack for added physicality, similar to the tactics he adopted against Kilmarnock.
Having a squad of players that can be relied upon has already been seen to be hugely beneficial this season with players not having to be rushed back after long flights home or when they aren’t fully fit, and hopefully Gerrard’s men can start the next run of packed fixtures from where they left off, with three points and a convincing win.