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Rangers best possible XI v Hearts

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OPINION

Steven Gerrard should axe Daniel Candeias if he wants to name his best possible starting line-up against Hearts when they take on Craig Levein’s side at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon.

Rangers must win the game in order to stop Celtic winning the Scottish Premiership title and to do so, enigmatic Candeias should spend the match on the bench because you simply do not know what you are going to get from the Portuguese attacker.

One week he can be unplayable, but in the next five or six games, he can be completely anonymous.

As the season is drawing to a close, it is a good chance for Gerrard to hand some of the younger players a chance to shine, and Glenn Middleton should be picked to replace Candeias on the Gers’ wing.

Middleton, 19, has only started four Scottish Premiership fixtures this season and has made just one 31 minute long appearance in the league in 2019.

He has been criminally under-used and should play a part against Hearts this weekend.

Allan McGregor should start in goals behind a back-four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Jon Flanagan.

Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Steven Davis all did well against Motherwell last time out and are Gerrard’s best central midfield trio at the moment.

Scott Arfield scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Motherwell so it would make no sense to leave him out. Fringe player Middleton should start on the opposite wing to the ex-Burnley ace.

Alfredo Morelos is suspended so Jermain Defore is a no-brainer to start up front ahead of Kyle Lafferty.

Rangers would crush Hearts if Gerrard names this starting line-up on Saturday.

Middleton’s pace and creativity, combined with the ruthless form of Defoe and Arfield will make this an afternoon to remember for the Gers fans who will travel down the M8.

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