What has been clear for Rangers this season under Philippe Clement, is that playing good sides in European football isn’t the problem.
Taking chances against teams in the Scottish Premiership and beating teams who sit in and pack the box has been a huge issue with the manager not yet finding a way to choose the best players in his squad capable of dealing with the more physical challenge.
Clement has clearly grown frustrated with experienced players who are letting him down though and was rewarded with his faith in Hamza Igamane with a blockbuster performance from the young Rangers striker, the sort that makes him undroppable.
Rangers predicted XI vs St Johnstone
St Johnstone are currently ninth in the Scottish Premiership, but this means nothing when you consider that Rangers have dropped points against Hearts and Kilmarnock, who both sit below the Perth outfit.
This is who Clement should go with to pick up momentum and get the domestic train back on track.
Ridvan Yilmaz is building up his minutes, however, the Gers boss has shown in the past that he is keen to avoid rotation in his defence whenever possible.
Against Nice, the back four did little wrong and the Ligue 1 side were restricted to mainly long-range efforts aside from the penalty incident chaos.
Midfield options are more limited, and there is a straight fight between Ianis Hagi and Mohamed Diomande was the attacking midfield role.
Hagi knows Scottish football well and Diomande should be rested, rather than dropped, after his best display for some time.
Nedim Bajrami would also be able to drift inside if Hagi starts given his ability to play on either flank.
Should Clement make any changes to the forward line?
The forward line clicked in France and much of this was down to the work of Igamane, the young Moroccan brought others into play and was a positive focal point for the attack.
For once, moves weren’t breaking down before they had a chance to properly build up.
With the Premier Sports Cup final two weeks away, Clement must have one eye on that fixture and the XI that will be best suited to beating Celtic – that team doesn’t feature Cyriel Dessers or James Tavernier from the start.
