Rangers winger Brandon Barker was pictured in training on Tuesday as he eyes a rare Premiership outing against St Mirren [Rangers.co.uk].
Barker has made just eleven appearances for the Gers so far this season, with only five of those coming from the start.
However, with Steven Gerrard hinting that he’ll make changes in Paisley on Wednesday with Saturday’s Old Firm in mind, the former Man City youth could receive his first opportunity to impress in over a month.
Ryan Kent has started all 20 league matches so far this season but after a poor performance against Hibs on Boxing Day, he’s a candidate to drop out of the XI to freshen up prior to the visit of Celtic.
Gerrard will be keen to ensure there’s still pace in his team, though, so if Kent is rested, Barker comes into contention for a start.
Jordan Jones is also available after recently completing a seven-match SFA ban and he showed at Fir Park in September just how effective he can be on the road.
Yet, Barker has been trusted more regularly across the past season and a half, even starting at Porto in last season’s Europa League and at Parkhead earlier this campaign.
His most recent outing came at Falkirk in late November, where he lasted just 26 minutes before going off with a niggle.
He’s long since returned to fitness, though, and was pictured in training on Tuesday as preparations were ramped up for St Mirren.
Contrastingly, Jones was nowhere to be seen in the gallery, suggesting he’s unlikely to make his first matchday squad since completing his suspension.
Barker has frustrated supporters at times since his arrival at Ibrox in the summer of 2019, but he’s got pace to burn and when he backs himself to take on defenders, he can be dangerous.
Goals off the bench against Ross County and Hamilton in October and November respectively suggest he’s best used as an impact sub, but he’ll be hoping for just a sixth start of the season against the Buddies.
Ahead of the game, St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin has predicted two of the multiple changes he thinks Gerrard will make to his Gers XI.
