Philippe Clement has had a difficult summer as he looks to rebuild Rangers and drag the club back into the Champions League.
There are still problems throughout the squad, however, as the display against Dynamo Kyiv proved, there are still some decent players to work with.
Depth is an issue, but the Rangers manager has more cover than Motherwell’s Stuart Kettlewell, who is having to endure something of an injury crisis, as he explains his thinking for today’s line-up via RTV.
Philippe Clement reveals Rangers line-up thinking
At this stage of the season, controlling the rotation is key.
There shouldn’t just be change for change’s sake and, speaking last week, Clement explained why the same players can’t be expected to go every game:
“We need to make a rotation in the next couple of weeks because not enough players are ready to have their best performance during 90 minutes.
“It is game by game taking the maximum and seeing who copes with it, who stays fit, who becomes stronger, who is the most competitive.
“I have an idea in my head today, but it can change during the week based on what I see in training.”
On this occasion, with a full Hampden and a depleted opponent, Clement knows that the time is right to introduce players who have been coming off the bench and who have just arrived.
Speaking after the announcement of the line-up for today, the Gers boss revealed why he went with the team picked to get the job done:
“I need also to look towards Tuesday, so it’s about making the right choices with the starting XI and bringing in players along the way.
“We’re very motivated to get the three points.”
When asked about the inclusion of Robin Propper and Vaclav Cerny, he said:
“Because they are a little bit longer in the building, not long yet like Robin is not a week yet, Vaclac now, like 10 days and they need to get rhythm also.”
Rangers focus must be on taking chances
Other than Nicolas Raskin and Oscar Cortes, the most damage being done to the manager’s plans concerns the availability of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell.
Both players improve the matchday squad and it is frustrating for fans to see them not involved especially with Hagi scoring a hat-trick with the B team.
If it is any consolation, it will be even more frustrating for Clement.
Good quality chances have been created in the two competitive fixtures so far and the manager will be hoping to see an improvement in how clincial his forward line is.
The inclusion of Scott Wright remains a mystery though after two poor performances, that the manager has other options available on the bench only makes it more puzzling.
Across the city, in pre-season and on the opening day, there has been no such profligacy.
He has had to make early changes in the two games so far, hopefully, they are made this time because the job has already been done rather than because a result is being chased.
