Rangers take on Copenhagen on what is set to be a cold and rather wintery night in Glasgow with those that are brave enough to make the game likely to need every pie and Bovril available to keep warm.
Gers boss Philippe Clement hasn’t added any more new faces to his squad since the last time we played at Ibrox but Fabio Silva has had another couple of weeks training since his debut against Kilmarnock.
With several players still unavailable through injury or lack of fitness, this is who the manager has gone with as Rangers look to bounce back immediately from the weekend’s defeat to Hertha Berlin and get a positive result against Copenhagen.
Rangers v Copenhagen – team news announced
Borna Barisic started the training camp in Spain training on his own and it was Robbie Fraser who replaced Ridvan Yilmaz at half-time.
The Turkey international is the centre of intense transfer speculation after a bid was rejected from Galatasaray and he remains an integral part of the team.
In the middle of defence, Clement doesn’t have too many worries and, with a view to next week’s league game with Hibs, has gone strong with his centre-half pairing.
Connor Goldson looked rustier than most against Hertha Berlin and he will be wanting a more composed display this evening.
Midfield is where Rangers have more issues and where the game could be won and lost against Copenhagen.
Who partners John Lundstram, has been a question that has been getting asked all season.
Nicolas Raskin should be the favourite to take the role but there is no need to rush his return to full fitness with Dumbarton at the weekend too, 45 minutes and then, maybe, the return of Ryan Jack.
Dujon Sterling played in an unfamiliar right-wing role on Saturday and hopefully it is the last time we see him there.
Tom Lawrence is back in full training and won’t be far away from starting but, given his 12-months, it is safer to gradually reintroduce him, even if we are short of goals in the forward line.
Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland looked the sharper of the wingers, as they have done all season and Clement looks like he feels this pair will be his first choice until Abdallah Sima returns.
This is as good a time as any to experiment and this is who the manager has gone with:
A first goal for Fabio Silva wouldn’t go amiss as would a confidence booster for Cyriel Dessers when he comes off the bench, either way, we need to start taking chances ahead of a key run of domestic fixtures.
The fans turning up tonight deserve to see some goals, preferably for Rangers.
