Rangers are set to welcome Championship side Queen’s Park to Ibrox in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.
The match will see the return of the original Glasgow Derby with Rangers (1872) and Queen’s Park (1867) two of Scotland’s oldest clubs.
Whilst the two clubs were kicking a ball long before the east end club grew green with envy, they’ve certainly enjoyed different fortunes over the last century and a half.
And as Rangers prepare to welcome Queen’s Park to Ibrox for the first time since February 2013 – when the two teams met in the old Scottish Third Division – there are some familiar faces travelling from lesser Hampden.
Rangers loanee ruled out for Queen’s Park
Rangers let academy right-back Adam Devine move on loan to Queen’s Park this January.
The right-back has found chances at a premium at Ibrox as he looks to continue his development and get more first-team exposure.
The Rangers defender, 21, will look to help push the Championship team up the table but will not be involved in the Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.
That’s because SFA rules prevent a loan player playing against his parent club in the competition, meaning Devine will have to watch on from the stands.
Ex-Rangers striker returns for Scottish Cup clash
If Queen’s Park stand any chance of landing a blow on Rangers at Ibrox, they will also need their frontmen firing.
The Spiders are currently 5th in the Scottish Championship and are probably underperforming given the heady ambitions of those bankrolling the club.
Managed by Callum Davidson, Rangers know all too well the St Johnstone manager’s penchant for a cup competition having won a double with St Johnstone in 2021.
Under Davidson’s management the Saints also famously defeated Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup despite the Gers’ relentless march to the Premiership title.
If Davidson is to repeat the feat then he’ll need former Rangers striker Zak Rudden to be on top form for Queen’s Park at Ibrox.
Rudden, 25, came through the youth ranks at Rangers but never played a first-team game for the Gers before leaving in 2020.
Set to return to Ibrox for the first time as a Queen’s Park player, having previously faced Rangers with Dundee and St Johnstone, the Hampden cub’s Scottish Cup hopes could rest on the striker’s shoulders.
