There are two big decisions facing Philippe Clement as he takes his team to the Highlands for the lunchtime game.
It’s as you were for Philippe Clement heading into Sunday lunchtime’s clash with Ross County – with one big exception.
Title-chasing Rangers make the trip to the Highlands looking to keep the heat on Celtic and give themselves a chance of going into the post-split season as league leaders. They’re up against it as far as their schedule is concerned – the Hoops have already completed their pre-split quota but Clement’s team play twice in the next four days with that rearranged game with Dundee on the horizon soon after this one.
It’s going to be hectic, made all the worse by the news that they will have to do it without Mohamed Diomande who needed an operation on his thumb after the Old Firm. Clement said: “Diomande had in the Old Firm a bad contact, a small injury on the thumb. He needed an operation this morning for that so he will be out, not long but he will be out for the weekend. For the rest, the same players available like it was (earlier this week).”
Predicted Rangers XI
Luckily for Clement, there are options to replace Diomande. Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell both came off the bench against Celtic and they provide serious depth in midfield. The latter made his pitch to start in the buildup and it’s possible he’s played his way into the thinking. However you feel if it comes down to a coin flip between him and Cantwell, it’s the latter who will win out.
Elsewhere there are choices to be made in the wide areas. Fabio Silva and Scott Wright started there against Celtic but with Borna Barisic back after an illness and Dujon Sterling no longer needed to cover left-back, he goes into consideration for the position where he has most impressed this season. Rabbi Matondo and Abdallah Sima meanwhile both scored off the bench against the Hoops. Decisions, decisions…
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