Steven Gerrard should recall Steven Davis to the midfield for Rangers’ Scottish Premiership fixture against Kilmarnock this weekend.
The Gers face Killie at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon and must bounce back following their dismal draw against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Rangers were devoid of ideas in West Lothian, drawing a blank and failing to steal a march on Celtic.
Many supporters took to Twitter after the game to rage at the manager’s tactics and his choice of midfield pairing, with Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara performing similar roles and failing to provide any creativity from the middle of the park.
The absence of Joe Aribo was keenly felt at the weekend but it’s clear that the squad lacks a dynamic central midfielder and that investment is needed in that area sooner rather than later.
In the short-term, it’s unlikely that the manager will rip up his tactical plans and trial a new formation.
He does have the option to switch up the personnel for Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock, though, and it’s one he should take.
Steven Davis has received just 46 minutes of playing time across the first four matches of the league campaign after struggling with an Achilles problem during pre-season.
The 35-year-old hasn’t quite looked up to speed so far but he should be better for an additional week of hard training and may well have featured during Wednesday’s secretive bounce match against Plymouth Argyle.
For a home league game in which Rangers will likely dominate possession, he’s a better choice than Glen Kamara, who is the most conservative of the current midfield options.
At his best, the Northern Ireland international is capable of running matches and even though he’s been short of playing time, he is more likely to provide a key pass than his Finnish teammate.
It’s also crucial that Ryan Jack offers more positive intent.
Instead of sitting back and mirroring the work of his midfield partner, the Scotland international should be looking to get himself up the pitch to take on shooting opportunities, as he did regularly during a strong run of form last season, prior to the winter break.
In the games ahead, the mindset of those playing in midfield will be as important as their positioning.
If you’d like to hear more on potential solutions to Rangers’ midfield struggles, check out our latest video on the Rangers News YouTube channel.
