Rangers boss Philippe Clement has offered an explanation as to why key first choice central defender Connor Goldson isn’t featuring against Dundee from the start today.
Gers are in action against the Dens Park outfit at Ibrox as they look to follow up Wednesday’s victory over Hearts with another triumph in the Scottish Premiership.
The games are coming thick and fast for Rangers at the moment and will continue to do so across a hectic Christmas and New Year period to follow.
And it doesn’t help when players are dropping like flies in terms of injuries. Before Hearts in midweek, Rangers already had Nico Raskin, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Scott Wright and Kieran Dowell out on the sidelines.
And while Barisic is back in the starting line-up vs Dundee today, Danilo and Tom Lawrence are fresh injury concerns after picking up long-term injuries during the Jambos win.
Both players will be out until after the winter break with Danilo unfortunately needing surgery on his knee. So it means Clement has freshened his line-up as much as possible for the Dundee meeting, including dropping Goldson to the bench.
Clement explains Goldson Rangers omission
The Belgian explained why the English defender was dropped to the bench today, telling BBC Sportsound: “We have a lot of games, 12 games in 37 days. That is the reason that Connor Goldson doesn’t start today.
“He is fit and feels good but we have a lot of games still to come. I need one moment also with these players to see if I can give them a breather in between and it is a chance for other players also to show themselves.
“John Souttar has done a good job in training and in the games he played. So it is his opportunity, like that I want to see a team where everybody is ready because it is the only way to compete in four competitions.
“If we do that with 11-14 players then we will get even much more injuries. But I want to in the next couple months and next season to have a much better preparation and players are ready to play every three days because at the moment, with too many players it is not the case.”
