Rangers goalkeeper Wes Foderingham will be hoping to be handed just his sixth appearance of the season during Saturday’s Scottish Cup Fifth Round clash against Hamilton Academical.
The Gers travel to the Fountain of Youth Stadium for an early afternoon kick-off and are looking to pick up from where they left off in the win over Hibs on Wednesday night.
Steven Gerrard has made it clear that there won’t be wholesale changes to his side, but several fringe players will be hoping for an inclusion.
Greg Stewart, for example, looks likely to start the game.
Another no doubt hoping to be included is Wes Foderingham. He’s been very much the backup goalkeeper at Ibrox since the return of Allan McGregor, but he does occasionally get a game.
He made eight appearances last season and has turned out five times during this campaign, deployed when McGregor has been suspended, injured or in need of a rest.
One of those such occasions came directly after the winter break when he was between the sticks against Stranraer. He didn’t have much to do in that fixture, but after helping the Gers to this stage of the competition, he’ll be hoping for another shot.
McGregor was at fault for Hibernian’s goal in midweek and was subsequently criticised by his manager [RangersTV]. There’s no suggestion that he be dropped as such, but it will be interesting to see what Gerrard’s approach is in this scenario.
Will he judge it best to rest McGregor after five games in two and a half weeks, or will he keep him in and give him an immediate chance to respond to the criticism?
Given how seriously Rangers need to take this competition in the quest for major silverware, he may be leaning towards the latter.
Further opportunities are set to be few and far between for Foderingham, though, who is entering the final few months of his Ibrox contract, and he’ll be hoping the manager shows some faith in him.
