Ahead of Friday night’s Scottish Cup Fourth Round tie at Ibrox, we’ve put together a Rangers Predicted XI to face Stirling Albion.
There could barely be any more distance between two clubs in the SPFL than there is between the Gers and the Binos.
The champions of Scotland are top of the Premiership and visitors are sixth in League Two, having won just one of their last 12 league matches.
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Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst has already confirmed that he will be rotating his squad, though, with fringe men, players returning from injury and Academy starlets all in line for minutes.
Therefore, we’ve put together a Predicted XI that features seven changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Aberdeen in the Premiership on Tuesday.
We’re predicting that Jon McLaughlin will replace Allan McGregor between the sticks.
A relative lack of back-up options at right-back following Nathan Patterson’s exit means we think James Tavernier could continue, but Borna Barisic should get a rest, with Calvin Bassey pushing out to left-back to replace him.
That would make room for both Leon Balogun and Leon King to come in at centre-back.
18-year-old King has made two previous first-team appearances but this would be his first ever senior start.
In midfield, John Lundstram and James Sands could both get a chance to impress, after finishing the Dons clash together.
Juninho Bacuna could then be deployed in a central attacking midfield role, with Fashion Sakala and Scott Wright offering pace from the flanks.
Cedric Itten is likely to get his first Rangers start since August up front.
Kemar Roofe should receive 30 minutes or so off the bench on his return from injury, while teenage prospects Charlie McCann and Alex Lowry could also feature as substitutes.
Rangers Predicted XI vs Stirling Albion (H) – 21/01/2022
GK – Jon McLaughlin
RB – James Tavernier
CB – Leon Balogun
CB – Leon King
LB – Calvin Bassey
DM – John Lundstram
DM – James Sands
RW – Scott Wright
CAM – Juninho Bacuna
LW – Fashion Sakala
ST – Cedric Itten