Barry Ferguson has named his first ever Old Firm Rangers starting XI as the Ibrox legend leads his team into Celtic Park.
There will be around 2400 Rangers fans in attendance as this Old Firm match-up marks the return of away supporters in Scotland’s biggest fixture.
Rangers are all but out of the Scottish Premiership title race but have pride to play for as Barry Ferguson tries to haul back a 16 point gap at the top of the table.
The interim Rangers manager is used to hostile atmospheres with Ferguson having taken abuse from Celtic fans during the Gers’ last visit to the Glasgow’s Eastend.
Rangers can also now focus on Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers’ attempts at stoking the Old Firm midweek falling on deaf ears given Rangers had bigger fish to fry in Fenerbahce.
But kick-off closing in, has Barry Ferguson heeded Scott Arfield’s advice and started both James Tavernier and Dujon Sterling at Celtic Park?
Barry Ferguson names Rangers starting XI v Celtic
Barry Ferguson masterminded victory over Jose Mourinho with a tactical switch to a back five in Turkey.
And it looks like the interim Rangers manager has stuck with those tactics on the away day trip to Celtic Park too with five defenders starting in Glasgow.
Jack Butland starts in goal for Rangers after his penalty kick heroics v Fenerbache.
John Souttar will be at the centre of back three alongside Leon Balogun and James Tavernier, with Dujon Sterling at right-back and Ridvan Yilmaz at left-back.
A midfield three of Scotland hopeful Connor Barron, Belgium-bound Nicolas Raskin and Ivorian talent Mohamed Diomande will hope to win the battle at Parkhead.
Rangers then start with a front two of Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny with Rangers set-up to spring a counter attack at Parkhead.
Rangers team to face Celtic: Butland; Sterling, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Yilmaz; Barron, Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Dessers.
Substitutes: Kelly, Propper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo
Meanwhile, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has been ruled out of the Old Firm derby with a calf problem.
Celtic team to face Rangers: Schmeical, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp, McCowan, Engels, Hatate, Jota, Kuhn, Maeda
Substitutes: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar, Turley
Barry Ferguson relishing Celtic Park atmosphere
Barry Ferguson knows all about Celtic Park from his playing days as Rangers captain.
The former Ibrox skipper was involved in a number of legendary Old Firm battles with Ferguson scoring three goals against Celtic in his career.
Speaking ahead of a return to Celtic Park, the interim Ibrox gaffer is expecting a hostile atmosphere but is backing his side to go and get all three points.
“It’s a place I always like to go and play. It’s hostile,” said Ferguson. “They’re the sort of environments I like to go to.
“I want my players to go and embrace these stadiums. But I’m sure I’ll get a nice reception when I’m standing at the touchline.
“But I’ll need to focus on making sure my team go with the game plan that we’re thinking about. And if we carry that out, we’ve got a right good chance of getting the three points.”
