Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will have a bit of a selection headache today against Aberdeen if pre-match injury doubts Jermain Defoe and James Tavernier don’t make the match.
He revealed both are struggling for fitness in the build up to the Ibrox encounter at 3pm this afternoon, meaning the Gers are potentially caught short both in defence and attack.
Alfredo Morelos is still serving his suspension after being sent off against Celtic last month, leaving our options up front severely limited.
Matt Polster can slot in at right-back, but he has only one substitute appearance to his name so far and throwing him in against Aberdeen isn’t ideal.
Ryan Kent meanwhile will return from his suspension and could help add a bit of bite in the final third.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Gerrard said:
Tavernier and Defoe are both doubts for the weekend. Ryan Kent is back. Jamie Murphy I doubt will be involved with the last game being astroturf.
I don’t want to push him back too early and risk him. He will be involved in training. Graham Dorrans is repeating training sessions now which is great to see.
It’s probably too soon for him at the weekend but we will look to try and get some minutes for him in a reserve game as he has missed a lot of football.
He is working very hard and pushing himself.
Kyle Lafferty is the most obvious choice to fill in for Defoe should he miss out, but he has started just one match in 2019 so far and is reportedly one of the players in Gerrard’s bad books after a bounce game against Liverpool U23s last week.
That could mean a return for Glenn Middleton if either him or Ryan Kent is pushed into a more central role and other plays on the flank.
Today’s team news announcement will certainly be interesting.
What starting eleven would you like to see today? Have your say in the comments below…