Philippe Clement has seen a recent improvement in Rangers’ form and a chink of light that suggests not all is lost.
The manager couldn’t have asked for a better week in terms of the size of the challenge facing his squad.
With injuries improving, Clement now has options throughout the Rangers team and has made a big call in his team selection to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Rangers starting XI sees James Tavernier decision made
The form of James Tavernier has been encouraging after getting his place back at the expense of Dujon Sterling, who has been nursing a nerve issue.
It is the skipper who has been given the nod which suggests that he has regained the trust of his manager, but he is fully aware of the pressure that Sterling is providing:
“As a footballer, you can never expect to start your game,” Tavernier said when asked if he thought that his current form means that he will start the next couple of games.
“You’ll get too comfortable. You don’t want that. You always want to be pushing yourself.
“Every single week, I never expect myself to start. I always try and push myself.
“That’s what I continue to do, even when I’m not being playing. It’s just pushing hard and obviously helping the team.”
Where Spurs could hurt Rangers the most
Clement said in the summer that Tavernier wasn’t going to be playing every game, however, he took his time in giving Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Sterling a chance to stake their respective claims.
Sterling needs to be given more minutes at this level and against Celtic because Rangers aren’t going to make any money out of Tavernier, but they could out of the former Chelsea academy star.
Spurs might have a few injury issues, however, their midfield and forward line is packed with internationals and, worryingly, pace – especially on their left and Rangers right.
Tavernier notoriously struggles against Daizen Maeda and Timo Werner is a very similar style of player, sometimes even the German international doesn’t look like he knows what he is going to do.
The Gers skipper will have to be especially wary of Werner’s movement in the channels, if he doesn’t, he could be in for a long night.
