There’s no rest for the wicked at Rangers. Deadline day has been and gone but the small matter of an Old Firm derby arrives just 48 hours later.
It’s the first clash between Celtic and Rangers this season with the Hoops currently two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a perfect start.
Gers drew with Hearts on the opening day but have responded well with two league wins, the most recent a 6-0 thumping of Ross County at Hampden.
As such, confidence will be higher than it could have been given a tumultuous start to the season for Rangers on and off the pitch.
It’s still going to be an almighty difficult task for Philippe Clement’s men at Parkhead and you’d have to think earning a point at this stage of the campaign would be considered a good result.
Dujon Sterling comes into Rangers midfield
As far as the starting XI for Rangers is concerned, Clement intimated that he has no fresh availability issues.
Only Ridvan Yilmaz will miss out through injury, while new loan signing Neraysho Kasanwirjo is available but likely to start on the bench.
Fellow deadline day arrival and £3.5m playmaker Nedim Bajrami won’t be able to play any part because his paperwork hasn’t quite been finalised yet.
It means Mohamed Diomande is likely to play as the attacking midfielder with the physicality of Dujon Sterling partnering Connor Barron just behind.
There will be no changes to the defensive line-up while Rabbi Matondo should earn a start after his scintillating afternoon in Mount Florida last Saturday.
Here is our Rangers predicted XI for the Old Firm derby versus Celtic on Sunday.
Rangers predicted XI vs Celtic
GK – Jack Butland
RB – James Tavernier (C)
CB – John Souttar
CB – Robin Propper
LB – Jefte
CM – Dujon Sterling
CM – Connor Barron
RW – Vaclav Cerny
LW – Rabbi Matondo
CAM – Mohamed Diomande
ST – Cyriel Dessers
