Rangers’ League Cup quarter-final opponents Livingston are set to be understrength for their trip to Ibrox on Wednesday night, as Gers loanee Ben Williamson is unavailable.
Williamson joined the Lions on loan in July and had a disrupted start to his time in West Lothian.
However, he’s a quality young player with a lot to offer and that’s started to show recently.
The 20-year-old has made Livi’s last two starting XIs and has helped to turn their poor early-season form around.
David Martindale’s side lost their opening four Premiership fixtures but since Williamson’s introduction, they’ve picked up four points from a possible six, drawing at Dundee and defeating Celtic.
They’ll have to do without the Scotland youth international at Ibrox, though, due to a clause in his loan agreement that renders him ineligible against his parent club.
It ensures Martindale will have to stray from the formula that worked so well against the Hoops on Sunday.
Livi could also be without their weekend matchwinner, former Gers attacker Andrew Shinnie, as Martindale has expressed concerns about the 32-year-old’s workload.
It’s still likely that there will be one player with Rangers connections in the opposition lineup, though.
Former Ibrox player Jason Holt is a regular in midfield for the West Lothian outfit and he’ll be hoping to knock his old side out of the League Cup.
Steven Gerrard hasn’t won a domestic cup competition since his appointment and on Tuesday, his assistant, Gary McAllister, made it clear how much the coaching staff want that to change.
