Every game for Rangers is a big game at the moment but few trips in the SPFL are tougher than visiting Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Match day one saw Michael Beale over think things by trying to combat their physicality instead of concentrating on his own team but current Gers boss Philippe Clement won’t be as distracted.
What he will have to do is cope without the option of bringing recently returned Kemar Roofe off the bench for Rangers and the gaffer has hinted that someone else in the squad could get an opportunity to face Kilmarnock as a result.
Rangers boss to give youth a chance against Kilmarnock
Roofe’s issues are well known and the fact that he played 45 minutes for the B team on Monday suggested that he was going to sit out the short journey to Ayrshire.
Then there is the artificial surface which, surprisingly, Killie are said to be getting rid of soon, however, until then, a 31-year old with a five-year history of calf problems is unlikely to be risked on such a pitch.
Speaking ahead of the game, Philippe Clement has said that Roofe’s absence will give someone else in the Rangers squad a chance to impress against Kilmarnock:
“The only thing is that I cannot put Kemar Roofe in the selection again because of the surface.
“So that is a clear message from my medical staff that it is too risky after his injury and amount of injuries. In that way, it is a disadvantage to play on that kind of pitch.
“But we need to adapt again and it is a chance for another player.”
Unfortunately, there are no obvious forward options to fill the gap left by someone with a consistently good goals per minute ratio.
As we’ve seen from Clement in the past, he isn’t scared to use youth players rather than play someone out of position instead.
Zak Lovelace impressed when he was given a chance before suffering a hamstring injury that required surgery, but he is the type of player that can make a difference now that he is back.
Lovelace also offers a central option that Scott Wright or Ross McCausland can’t.
Cyriel Dessers and Fabio Silva will be the two expected to lead the line but, in Roofe’s absence, Rangers fans would welcome the return of Lovelace in the squad to face Kilmarnock.
