Rangers will target two wins from two in the Europa League as they welcome Ligue 1 giants Lyon to Ibrox on Thursday night (kick-off: 8pm) for their fourth match in 13 days.
Philippe Clement’s squad enter the fixture on a four-game winning streak after Tom Lawrence’s sublime goal handed them a 1-0 win over Hibs on Sunday, though the Belgian has stressed the importance of making sure his player’s batteries don’t run dry after a gruelling schedule of fixtures.
“You look at fixtures and when they are played,” bemoaned Clement on Sunday. “There are even teams where teams don't have to play when they have to play Europe like we had with Dynamo Kiev, for example. So you play today at 12 o'clock after a European trip where you come home around 2 o'clock at Auchenhowie (Rangers’ training complex). So then you need to drive back home so players sleep, if they are lucky, around 4am.”
The Belgian is expected to without Ridvan Yilmaz, who has only recently returned to training after a thigh injury, while forward Oscar Cortes is also ruled out. Rabbi Matondo, Ianis Hagi and Danilo are all unavailable, though the trio were not included in the Gers’ Europa League squad. Mohamed Diomande is fit enough for selection after missing the weekend win against Hibs, though.
So, how is the Rangers team expected to look against Lyon tomorrow night?
The Scotsman predict the Rangers starting XI for their Europa League clash at Ibrox, using live photos from today’s training session.
5. LB: Jefte
The Brazilian (right) has been in fine form since coming into the side for the injured Ridvan Yilmaz and would be hard to leave out. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. CM: Connor Barron
The midfielder was excellent again against Hibs at the weekend and is currently making himself undroppable. | SNS Group
7. CM: Mohamed Diomande
The Ivorian missed the weekend win at Ibrox with injury, but is expected to be fit enough to return to the starting XI tomorrow night at the expense of Nicolas Raskin. | SNS Group
8. RW: Dujon Sterling
Czech winger Vaclav Cerny has been playing in a right-wing role almost exclusively, but was below par in the win over Hibs. Sterling signed a new deal this week and could celebrate it by regaining his place in the starting XI. | SNS Group