Rangers are taking on Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup on Saturday and the Fifth Round tie is a chance for Gio van Bronckhorst to give another taste of first-team action to Alex Lowry.
It’s imperative that the Gers take the Scottish Cup seriously this season.
It’s now well over a decade since the club won the trophy, and the recent domestic cup woes are something van Bronckhorst should be looking to put an end to as soon as possible.
At the same time, though, a fixture against League Two opposition provides a good opportunity to rotate.
The likes of Allan McGregor, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe may not be risked on Annan’s artificial surface due to their respective injury histories and there’s a chance to rest other key men who’ve played a lot of minutes recently.
Van Bronckhorst is already one creative player down with Ianis Hagi out for at least the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, and both Joe Aribo and Scott Arfield could probably do with putting their feet up this weekend.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey may still not quite be ready for a start after only brief cameos against both Hearts and Hibs.
GvB should start Lowry when Rangers take on Annan
Rangers’ unexpected hero from the last round, Lowry, is the perfect option to come in and pick up the creative slack.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder was the clear Man of the Match last time out in the cup against Stirling Albion and then he impressed again in his only senior start to date against Livingston a few days later.
He was back in the Academy ranks in midweek for the UEFA Youth League defeat to Sevilla but he was the standout Rangers performer in Dumbarton and will no doubt be itching to make the step up again.
Steven Gerrard too often passed up chances to give meaningful opportunities to young talents and given that Lowry has already proved he’s capable of holding his own in the Premiership, there would be little risk attached to giving him another chance to show off his talents against fourth-tier opposition.
