McCausland & Lawrence start: predicted Rangers XI v Saints | OneFootball

So with no Rangers left side worth speaking of, not to mention a tonne of players injured and unavailable, manager Philippe Clement must consider the lineup with a lot of caution compared with normal.

His resources, before the season even starts, are stretched to breaking point, and options are thin on the ground.

So who starts?

In goal, it might just be Liam Kelly. This is a cup, and Butland had a stinker in midweek, so Kelly might just get his nod for this one.

Defence is now a bother.

James Tavernier is in dire form, and probably into ‘past it’ territory, but he will just keep starting, while John Souttar was excellent midweek and will keep his spot especially given Leon Balogun is probably injured. Robin Propper likely to continue at LCB. Left back the new issue – it’s either Robbie Fraser, Dujon Sterling or Jefte. None are great options. But we think the manager will revert to playing Sterling out of position as he likes to do.

Midfield, if Sterling does start at LB, will be Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande.

Attacking midfield has to be Tom Lawrence ‘because there’s no one else’. We might be saying that a lot about that position no matter how poorly the Welshman performs.

Wings, well we have now lost Scott Wright much to the relief of most fans, while Rabbi Matondo is interesting Leeds United apparently. We have no Oscar Cortes, and just Ross McCausland and Vaclav Cerny are left. We don’t actually have a single useful option for the left side here unless left-sided Cerny actually plays there.

And striker, well, it’ll be Dessers again. He’s the only option for the system Clement plays.

So the starting eleven predicted by Ibrox Noise:

Kelly; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Sterling; Barron, Diomande; McCausland, Lawrence, Cerny; Dessers.

Enough to overcome St Johnstone?

You’d hope…