OPINION
Three strikers should be enough for any team but Rangers were hit with a potential injury crisis ahead of their Premiership game with St Johnstone on Saturday.
In his pre-match press conference Steven Gerrard said that both Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Kyle Lafferty (calf) were both major doubts for the game.
He said he hoped they might make it but also added that he wouldn’t take a gamble on either of them if they weren’t 100%.
Both players are on the wrong side of 30 and we don’t think either of them will make it – and Gerrard has options.
17-year-old Dapo Mebude was recalled from the Scotland youth set-up to provide cover but we don’t think Gerrard will put him out from the start.
Instead, if Defoe and Lafferty are out, we think speed machine Ryan Kent will be moved up top for the first time in his Rangers career, with 19-year-old Glen Middleton and Daniel Candeias supporting on the flanks.
We’re predicting a couple of other changes too, with Borna Barisic coming in for Andy Halliday at left-back and Steven Davis coming in for Ross McCrorie in midfield.
Gerrard has already confirmed that Wes Foderingham will take the place of the suspended Allan McGregor in goal.
This is the starting XI we’re expecting to see Gerrard put out at Ibrox this afternoon:
