Rangers head into Saturday’s must-win Scottish Premiership encounter with Glasgow rivals Celtic aiming to keep their title hopes alive with just eight matches remaining of the season.
Ibrox boss Michael Beale will have regretted his decision not to play January signings Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin from the outset during the Viaplay Cup final defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s men back in February.
Both players were named on the bench for the Hampden showpiece but it’s been evident for a number of weeks that they are two key players for the Light Blues. The latter, who has recovered from a thigh injury picked up prior to the international break, only made his way onto the pitch at the national stadium for the final 25 minutes but he instantly galvanised his team mates when he came on.
It’s clear the Belgian Under-21 international adds a new dimension to the Rangers midfield and he was declared FIT and available for selection by the Gers boss in his media conference on Friday. I would expect Beale to favour Raskin over John Lundstram, who was fairly ineffectual in the 2-0 win over Dundee United last weekend, in the engine room.
Two-goal hero Malik Tillman’s man-of-the-match performance solidified his place in the team for derby day, with Beale likely to stick with the same attacking options that started the match at Ibrox seven days ago. That would mean Alfredo Morelos continues to lead the line, with Antonio Colak set to feature in the second half.
Might Beale be tempted to bring Fashion Sakala back into his starting XI on the right flank, with the Zambian having had some joy against Celtic in the past and posing a threat with his pace? Should that happen, Tillman is capable of playing as a false nine.
Here, we predict how Rangers will line-up against Ange Postecoglou’s side at Celtic Park...
Both players were named on the bench for the Hampden showpiece but it’s been evident for a number of weeks that they are two key players for the Light Blues. The latter, who has recovered from a thigh injury picked up prior to the international break, only made his way onto the pitch at the national stadium for the final 25 minutes but he instantly galvanised his team mates when he came on.
![Returned to the starting 11 against Dundee United and did enough to suggest he will be given the nod once more at left-back over Yilmaz.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/06/15/GettyImages-1453869992.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Borna Barisic - LB
Returned to the starting 11 against Dundee United and did enough to suggest he will be given the nod once more at left-back over Yilmaz. | Getty Images
![Offered a lot more going forward than Lundstram did last weekend and will have a important role to play in the middle of the park.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/b25lY21zOjQzNzUyNThkLWMzZjctNGNlYS05ZTI1LWNkZjQzYjI4MzdjZTowNWIyZDdjNy1iYjU3LTRmNTItOGFiOC1lZTRlMzY3NmE0YzU.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Ryan Jack - CM
Offered a lot more going forward than Lundstram did last weekend and will have a important role to play in the middle of the park. | SNS Group
![Could well start at the base of midfield if he manages to recover from a thigh problem. Uses the ball well under pressure and should’ve started the Viaplay Cup final back in February.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/06/16/0_Hibernian-FC-v-Rangers-FC-Cinch-Scottish-Premiership.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Nicolas Raskin - CM
Could well start at the base of midfield if he manages to recover from a thigh problem. Uses the ball well under pressure and should’ve started the Viaplay Cup final back in February. | SNS Group
![Fans have really taken to him since arriving from Norwich City in January and it’s easy to see why. The versatile attacker is an influential figure in the final third.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/06/16/0_Rangers-FC-v-Ross-County-FC-Cinch-Scottish-Premiership.jpg?crop=3:2&width=615)
8. Todd Cantwell - RW
Fans have really taken to him since arriving from Norwich City in January and it’s easy to see why. The versatile attacker is an influential figure in the final third. | SNS Group