Rangers head into Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic at Celtic Park with confidence high following their impressive 3-0 victory over their city rivals in the Scottish League Cup. However, manager Derek McInnes still has several selection decisions to make, with injuries and the potential return of some players likely to influence his starting lineup.
The two Glasgow giants will meet again on Sunday, September 20, in what promises to be another highly anticipated Old Firm encounter. Rangers will be looking to repeat their dominant cup performance, while Celtic will be determined to respond after suffering a heavy defeat in their previous meeting.
Lawrence Shankland Injury Blow
One of the biggest concerns for Rangers is the continued absence of Lawrence Shankland.
The Rangers striker is facing a significant spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury. Reports indicate that he could be unavailable for approximately three to four months, representing a major blow to McInnes’ attacking options.
Shankland’s absence means Rangers will have to rely on other forwards to provide the goals against Celtic. Kevin Kelsy has already demonstrated his ability to make an impact, scoring in the recent 3-0 League Cup victory.
Bojan Miovski is another option who could play an important role as Rangers attempt to maintain their attacking threat.
Yokota and Chermiti Still Unavailable
Daisuke Yokota is another player Rangers cannot currently call upon. The midfielder has undergone groin surgery and is expected to remain unavailable for some time.
Youssef Chermiti is also continuing his recovery from a longer-term injury. His absence further reduces McInnes’ options as he prepares his squad for one of the biggest matches on the Scottish football calendar.
With several players unavailable, the Rangers manager will have to carefully balance attacking ambition with defensive stability.
Souttar Could Return to the Squad
One of the more interesting developments surrounding Rangers is the situation involving John Souttar.
The defender’s proposed move to Aris Thessaloniki reportedly broke down, leaving him at Rangers. McInnes has indicated that Souttar could potentially return to the first-team picture.
Whether he starts against Celtic remains uncertain, but his possible inclusion in the matchday squad would give Rangers another defensive option.
The situation is one to watch closely as the manager finalises his plans for Sunday’s game.
Tuur Rommens Provides Another Selection Option
Tuur Rommens could also provide Rangers with a boost if he is declared fit.
The player has been working his way back from a groin problem and could potentially be involved against Celtic. His availability would give McInnes another option and increase competition for places in the squad.
Rangers will want as many players available as possible for the Old Firm encounter, particularly given the intensity and physical demands normally associated with the fixture.
Ryan Naderi Expected to Be Available
Ryan Naderi is expected to be available for selection after previously having a fitness concern.
His availability could be particularly important because Rangers need attacking players capable of stretching Celtic’s defence. Naderi featured in Rangers’ recent league lineup and remains one of the options McInnes can use in the attacking areas.
The manager could therefore retain a similar attacking structure to the one that helped Rangers defeat Celtic in the League Cup.
Expected Rangers Lineup
Based on the latest team news and recent selection patterns, Rangers could line up with Jack Butland or Jack Butland’s replacement in goal, depending on the latest selection information, while the defence could feature James Tavernier or a similar combination of Rangers’ established defenders.
A projected Rangers XI based on the latest available information is:
Pandur
Sterling – Fernandez – Makhanya – Penrice
Neil – Raskin
Bouanani – Gassama – Naderi
Kelsy
This remains a projection rather than a confirmed lineup. McInnes could make changes depending on training, fitness assessments and tactical considerations before kick-off.
Rangers Looking for Another Big Performance
Rangers enter Sunday’s match with considerable confidence after beating Celtic 3-0 in the League Cup. Dan Neil scored twice in that encounter, while Kevin Kelsy also found the net as Rangers produced an emphatic performance.
However, the league meeting is a different challenge.
Celtic will have home advantage at Celtic Park and will be determined to produce a response. Rangers, meanwhile, will want to demonstrate that their cup victory was not an isolated result.
The league position also adds importance to the fixture. Rangers currently have 13 points from their opening six league matches, while Celtic have 18 points. A positive result for Rangers would therefore be significant in their attempt to close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
What Rangers Fans Will Be Watching
The main questions ahead of kick-off will be whether John Souttar returns to the squad, whether Tuur Rommens is fit enough to feature and how McInnes replaces the injured Shankland.
The Rangers manager also has to decide how aggressively to approach the game. The recent 3-0 cup victory demonstrated that Rangers can cause Celtic serious problems, but Celtic are likely to approach Sunday’s match differently after that defeat.
For Rangers supporters, the immediate priority will be another strong performance and a result that keeps the club firmly involved in the Scottish Premiership title race.
The Old Firm fixture at Celtic Park is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, and Rangers will arrive knowing that another victory over their biggest rivals would provide a major boost to their season.