Rangers winger Ryan Kent was rested ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier with PSV as the Ibrox side romped to a 4-0 victory over St Johnstone.
The Gers continue to improve game-by-game as the club’s summer signings start to gel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team followed up the thumping win over USG with victory over Callum Davidson’s side.
But ahead of kick-off there were fears amongst the Rangers support regarding £7m former Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, who had been left out of the squad completely.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Rangers boss van Bronckhorst confirmed to watching press that the winger was fine and was simply being rested ahead of the clash with the Dutch giants.
There were a few other interesting things to note from the starting XI too; Ben Davies was handed his first start whilst Tom Lawrence was also dropped and Alfredo Morelos continued from the bench.
Lawrence is another who was partially rested ahead of the game on Tuesday whilst Alfredo Morelos is simply not ready to start after five months on the sidelines.
James Sands is another who missed the St Johnstone clash, with van Bronckhorst reportedly putting this down to injury.
Rangers thrash St Johnstone as Ryan Kent rested
Rangers ran out comfortable winners against St Johnstone at Ibrox courtesy of goals from Malik Tillman, Antonio Colak, Scott Arfield and Tom Lawrence.
Tillman once again grabbed some major air to open the scoring, the young Bayern Munich loanee following up his mesmeric Tuesday night leap with a thumping back post header from a James Tavernier cross to open the scoring.
This would send Rangers into halftime 1-0 up and the team would rally in the second to add a further three goals to the scoresheet.
Antonio Colak pounced on a Rabbi Matondo challenge to get his third goal in as many games, the big Croatian’s first-time spinning finish another example of his finishing prowess.
Substitute Scott Arfield added a third after Welsh winger Matondo had rounded the Saints keeper and squared to the ex-Canadian international for a tap-in.
Arfield would then turn provider for fellow substitute Tom Lawrence who volleyed home to open his account for the Glasgow club after his summer move from Derby.
All in all it was a great workout for Rangers and a confidence-boosting win in the sunshine ahead of Tuesday’s clash with PSV, with Ryan Kent fit to return to face Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side.
Meanwhile, one player who was left heartbroken by Rangers last season has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
