Rangers have four games between now and the international break, coincidentally, facing just two teams in three competitions over the next ten days in the shape of Red Star Belgrade and Dundee.
First up are the Serbians who have reached the last 16 of the Europa League courtesy of them topping their group, so, despite not being one of the bigger names left in the tournament, they should not be taken lightly.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a few decisions to make and he has a squad available to him that is approaching full strength, with this in mind, this is the team I think he will send out for the first leg tonight at Ibrox.
This appears to be Gio’s go to Europa League line up now and, despite having Kemar Roofe, Filip Helander and Aaron Ramsey available, I’d be surprised if this isn’t the team he goes with, Glen Kamara has also looked back to his best in the last two games but I’d expect him – and the rest of the names mentioned – to come back in on Sunday against Dundee in the Scottish Cup.
My preference would be to have more pace on the right-hand side of attack but I understand why he likes to pick Arfield, you know what you are getting defensively and he does get into good goal scoring positions, even if he hasn’t had his shooting boots on recently.
It’s going to be an intriguing tie and one that I would be surprised if it is as open as the two games against Dortmund, however, this isn’t to say that our best approach shouldn’t be to get on the front foot, we just don’t look like a side that is comfortable sitting in and trying to hurt teams on the counter attack.
The good thing is our bench will be a lot stronger than it has been recently, against Aberdeen it played a key role in keeping the intensity high, there is no excuse for keeping the same XI on for 90 minutes or for only making one substitute.
Making the quarter finals will be a huge achievement but we need a hero, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos were outstanding against the German’s, and more of the same from them could see us put one foot in the next round.