Steven Gerrard is less than 24 hours away from sending his Rangers team out to face Hearts at Hampden.
Some of his selections are straightforward. For example, following a clean sheet in Dingwall in midweek, the back four is likely to stay the same.
In midfield, Steven Davis will return to partner up with the outstanding Ryan Jack.
Bang in form Alfredo Morelos will lead the line.
His support act in the forward left and right positions is yet to be determined, though.
You would think that if fit enough, Ryan Kent will occupy the left side. That leaves Scott Arfield, Sheyi Ojo and Greg Stewart fighting it out for the other berth.
For me, Stewart should be handed the start.
Ojo is goalless in his last nine outings [Soccerbase] and while he put in an improved display against Ross County, his inconsistency suggests he’s perhaps better used from the bench in such a showpiece game.
Meanwhile, although Arfield’s work ethic and willingness to offer himself for the ball is never in question, he’s gone 16 games without a goal [Soccerbase]. He’s a favourite of Gerrard’s and rightly so, after his performances last season, but recent displays make it hard to press a case for him to continue in the advanced role.
Stewart, on the other hand, has impressed when he’s been given genuine opportunities. He has a goal and four assists in just 483 minutes of football this season [Transfermarkt], and put in arguably the best display of any player behind the central striker this campaign, in the 5-0 home win against Aberdeen last month.
The ex-Birmingham City man has a subtlety and creativity which the Gers may require to breakdown the Jambos.
When these two sides met at Tynecastle a fortnight ago, Rangers managed just one shot on target. Arfield and Ojo both started that day and failed to impress.
£450k-rated Stewart [Transfermarkt], who only came on for the final 15 minutes in Edinburgh, offers something different that this opposition haven’t seen so far this campaign.
That’s why Gerrard should give him the nod on Sunday.
While you wait for kick-off, check out our Rangers vs Hearts Preview on YouTube.
