Philippe Clement will have been a relieved man when the Scottish Cup draw pulled Fraserburgh out of the hat for Rangers.
Given the current away form, the manager will be even happier that the game is at Ibrox with a chance to rotate a squad that has had to dig deep over the festive period.
Clement picked the same starting XI for two games in a row, but Rangers should have an entirely different look to it.
Rangers predicted XI vs Fraserburgh
The one area of the park that the Gers boss can’t really freshen up is in defence.
The players who are fit and who need minutes should start, which means that James Tavernier and Leon Balogun return after their cameos against Aberdeen.
Both will be needed against Man Utd though so they should be protected and replaced as soon as possible, if Leon King and Adam Devine can’t cope against Fraserburgh, they are at the wrong club.
Mohamed Diomande is suspended for Old Trafford, however, Connor Barron, Bailey Rice and Ianis Hagi is a midfield that is more than strong enough whilst also keeping one eye on the Europa League.
New look Rangers forward line
Vaclav Cerny has been run into the ground with Zak Lovelace a natural replacement on the right.
If Oscar Cortes wasn’t injured, it would have been a great opportunity for the Colombian winger to get minutes.
As one door closes, another opens, as perfectly demonstrated by Clinton Nsiala, who is now in the starting XI on merit.
Ross McCausland did the pre-match press conference which suggests he is starting and, despite Cyriel Dessers being linked with a move away from Rangers, he will let Hamza Igamane get a well-deserved rest with Findlay Curtis also an option.
Playing too many players who are short of action never works well so, a mix of experience and youth should allow the younger players a chance to just concentrate on their own games, rather than worry about the consequences if they don’t impress.
