Rothwell and Aarons Start: Predicted Rangers XI V Club Brugge | OneFootball

With Russell Martin beginning his Rangers career in earnest this weekend, Ibrox Noise posits a predicted Rangers XI the new boss can field as Club Brugge arrive in Govan for the start of Rangers’ pre-season proper. And no, not that one…

In goal, that’s a toss-up between the modest options Rangers currently have in Liam Kelly and Jack Butland.

Better is needed there.

In defence, we’d like to see Max Aarons given the nod, with John Souttar likely to partner new signing Emmanuel Hernandez in the centre, with Jefte probably on the left to compliment Aarons. Unfortunately Ben Davies is there too and will probably get his foot in the door given what we previously reported, and Robin Propper is not gone yet either.

In midfield Joe Rothwell could well make his Rangers debut, alongside Mohamed Diomande and Nico Raskin, depending who’s currently at training, with Lyall Cameron an interested party as well.

Bear in mind Kieran Dowell is back, and he could well be another a manager like this wants to use…

On the wings Rangers are threadbare, just Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland, and who even knows if the Welshman is fit – McCausland is also interesting European sides.

Up front… with Hamza working on his move to Lille he won’t play any part we’d imagine, while Dessers and his switch to AEK is still on the cards. That leaves Danilo.

Rangers’ options aren’t exactly a wealth of embarrassing riches, but we’ll plump for a Predicted Rangers XI:

Butland; Aarons, Tavernier, Hernandez, Jefte; Rothwell, Dowell, Raskin; McCausland, Danilo, Matondo.

It’s a horrible squad at present, we can’t make any bones about it, and we’re not blown away by many of the new additions either.

But hey, give him a chance, it’s only a friendly, he’s only in the door, and lots of ‘ffs’ to emphasise.