Rangers star Borna Barisic has ruled himself out of Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic.
In quotes attributed to the Daily Record, Barisic said he would be out for a minimum of two weeks. That means he’ll not be in the side for the imminent trip to Parkhead.
But whilst it’d have been nice to have the Croatian available, would he have started the match anyway?
For a game with the bite and intensity of this one, you’d expect Andy Halliday to be first choice. Especially considering how well the diehard Bluenose played in December’s Old Firm at Ibrox.
The makeshift left back and natural midfielder was named Man of the Match as Ibrox rang out to a chorus of his name. It was consolation for the humiliation suffered against Celtic the season previously.
Andy Halliday more suited to Old Firm battle?
For all of Barisic’s ability, the blood and thunder of this match, particularly away in Parkhead, might’ve passed him by. Going on current form, playing him would’ve been a risk anyway. But the disappointment comes on the back of an initially fruitful international break for the player.
The wingback scored against Azerbaijan in the opening Euro Qualifier for the World Cup finalists. But he wouldn’t be so lucky in the second against Hungary. Barisic picked up the injury whilst on international duty with Croatia.
The left-back went off 30 minutes into the game as Hungary defeated the Croats 2-1 in Budapest.
Whilst it might’ve been unlikely that Barisic would’ve started this one, he was coming back to Ibrox with a point to prove before injury struck. It was mightily unlucky – continued injury problems have hampered the player’s first season in Glasgow.
Let’s hope this doesn’t peg him back too far and he returns to the side for any potential run-in.
But it’s unlikely his involvement would’ve made a difference to Gerrard’s starting XI on Sunday.
