USA coach BJ Callaghan will be at Hampden this weekend but Rangers stars Malik Tillman and James Sands might be in no position to impress against Celtic.
Whilst Bayern loanee Tillman is struggling with a much-publicised hamstring problem, James Sands has struggled for regular minutes since Michael Beale came into the club.
Should one or neither player fail to make the squad for the clash with Celtic, it will come as a sizeable blow with both players still reeling from a World Cup snub at the end of last year.
The USA crashed out at the Round of 16 stage courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands and since then the nation’s support have been asking if leaving out Malik Tillman in particular was a mistake.
The Ibrox star has been a revelation in Scotland this season and not only does his absence impact USA coach BJ Callaghan, but it would well harm Rangers’ chances of lifting the trophy.
James Sands – whom many believe won’t be signed by Rangers permanently in the summer amid an 18-month loan move from NYCFC – has also only started three games since Beale came into the club.
Malik Tillman in potential USA coach Hampden blow
It is the Daily Record who’re claiming Anthony Gordon’s right-hand man is set to attend Hampden, with Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers also the subject of any assessment.
Speaking ahead of the game, Rangers manager Michael Beale has been providing an injury update to the media and claims that Malik Tillman hasn’t trained yet ahead of the Celtic clash.
“No real positive [injury] news right now,” Rangers manager Michael Beale said [Rangers].
“None of the boys returned to training today. We know we have a long injury list. We’ve had it for the time I’ve been back here and prior to me coming back.
“The team you saw at the weekend will be very close to the type of team we put out for this cup final – and it performed well.
“Only if I thought they were able to get through it. It’s a final. We live in a fantasy world if we think players lace their boots up every week in a fantastic physical condition.
“It’s a final against a big rival so I have 100 per cent faith that one or two will declare themselves fit around Friday or Saturday. Whether they are 100 per cent I’ll have to make the choice on that.
“This is why you build a squad and we’re quite blessed in terms of the level of player that we can call upon.”
Meanwhile, Rangers partners Castore have their sights set on world domination.
