During yesterday’s press conference, as captured by RangersTV, Steven Gerrard said: “there’s an opportunity for someone else.”
He was speaking in relation to Alfredo Morelos’s suspension.
The striker may have returned to incredible effect against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup on Wednesday night, but he still has another league match to run on his ban for violent conduct.
Therefore, as Gerrard says, there’s a spot up for grabs, and the Gers need to find a way to score without El Buffalo.
They have trialled a 4-4-2 diamond formation several times in 2019. However, it is yet to really come off.
Furthermore, the manager’s comment suggests there’ll be an opportunity for one striker, rather than both.
So who will it be – Defoe or Lafferty?
Both players will be heading into the game fresh.
Defoe didn’t feature at all against Killie on Wednesday, while Lafferty got a ten minute run out at the end.
Yet, I have a feeling the Northern Ireland international may get the nod on Sunday.
His goals to games ratio this season
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It’s a lot to ask for a 5ft 7′ poacher to go up against two inevitably much larger centre-backs, with little to no assistance.
While a less gifted player, Lafferty, is more suited to leading the line.
He is due a start and what’s more, I think we saw the ideal function of Defoe at Pittodrie.
The ability to introduce a player of his quality in the latter stages of games, is a real trump card.
That’s how I think he might be used again at the weekend.
