Injury blows to Rangers midfielders Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack should ensure Glen Kamara returns to face Hamilton on Wednesday night, following a spell out of the side.
Both Arfield and Jack were forced off during Saturday evening’s Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle with hamstring and heel injuries respectively.
On Tuesday morning, Steven Gerrard confirmed that both would miss at least the midweek Premiership clash against Accies, leaving a hole in the Gers midfield [Rangers FC Twitter].
Joe Aribo is likely to drop back from an advanced role to occupy one of those spots, while Kamara, a player who has recently been out of favour, is likely to fill the other.
The Finland international was impressive for club and country over the first half of the season, but his form has dipped noticeably since the turn of the year.
A quick glance at Rangers’ results would tell you he’s not the only one, but his struggles have seen him drop out of the side.
Kamara played the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32 tie against Braga, deputising for the suspended Ryan Jack, but his performance on that night did little to inspire confidence.
Against quality opposition, he was wasteful in possession and unable to provide his usual strong protection for the back four, with the visitors fashioning plenty of chances.
It was a relatively rare outing for the ex-Dundee man, with chances few and far between in 2020.
He has played just two minutes of Rangers’ last four league matches, being omitted from the squad on two occasions, while he was left on the bench both for the second leg in Braga and for Saturday’s defeat at Hearts.
However, the club’s transfer dealings in January ensure that unless the Gers opt for a more attacking line-up, bringing Ianis Hagi back to form part of the midfield, Kamara will be handed a start against Accies.
Andy King returned to England during the transfer window and Greg Docherty was allowed to join Hibs on loan.
Therefore, the 24-year-old is the only out-and-out senior midfielder remaining to call upon.
He’ll no doubt be hoping to grasp the opportunity and to re-establish himself in a side that he formed such an important part of, for much of 2019.
