Rangers boss Michael Beale has claimed that attacking duo Abdallah Sima and Kemar Roofe will return the side for the League Cup visit of Livingston.
Speaking after the narrow 1-0 Premiership win over Motherwell, the Ibrox manager was fielding questions on his style of play.
The Gers boss has previously claimed he wants to play with the “handbrake off” in comments which are continuing to hang over him as Rangers stutter from one domestic game to the next.
Quizzed on a perceived lack of attacking identity, with Michael Beale going to three at the back following an injury to Rabbi Matondo and winding up with a back five and two defensive midfielders against the Steelmen, the questions appeared to hit a sensitive zone.
Michael Beale: Abdallah Sima, Kemar Roofe to return v Livingston
To his credit, the Rangers boss lambasted his stuttering stars post-match and claims his side was miles off it from the first minute of the game.
But in response to questions about his tactics and style the Rangers manager claimed a lack of attacking options – namely Abdallah Sima and Kemar Roofe – forced his hand.
The Ibrox boss claims that both players, who were named on the bench, failed to start the game due to “niggles” whilst admitting the club “needs” them against Livingston.
“I’ve just sat here and said that I want to play better football,” said Beale.
“The teams that I’ve had play better football than today so I’m sitting here and being honest.
“(Abdallah) Sima and (Kemar) Roofe come into today’s game with niggles and we need them for Wednesday.
“So the reality is we had on the pitch what we had on it and we had to do certain things to get the result today because we weren’t very good.”
With Celtic out of the League Cup, a failure to go on and lift this trophy could spell curtains for Michael Beale at Rangers with the manager’s summer rebuild not turning out as planned at present.
Only goalkeeper Jack Butland can be branded a genuine success from the summer’s recruitment and so far this is a Rangers team lacking cohesion and identity.
