New Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale is set to take charge of a competitive game for the first time since his appointment last month, with the former Ibrox assistant looking to spark something of a revival following his return to the club.
The 42-year-old has inherited a squad that slipped nine points behind rivals Celtic in the title race heading into the World Cup break, although the Light Blues can quickly close that gap and apply some early pressure on the Hoops with a victory this evening.
Standing in their way of three points in Glasgow later today will be Lee Johnson’s Hibernian side, with the two teams having played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Easter Road back in August, as Josh Campbell snatched a point at the death for the Edinburgh outfit.
Ahead of what will be the start of a new era for the Old Firm side tonight as Beale’s tenure truly begins, here’s how Football FanCast predicts that the hosts will line up: (4-2-3-1) –
(GK) McGregor; (RB) Tavernier, (CB) King, (CB) Sands, (LB) Devine; (CM) Kamara, (CM) Jack; (RM) Matondo, (CAM) Tillman, (LM) Kent; (ST) Colak.
The former Queen’s Park Rangers boss will be without a number of his first-team squad due to injury, with the Englishman confirming that the likes of John Souttar and Tom Lawrence remain on the sidelines, while Ridvan Yilmaz has also been struck down by a hamstring issue of late. There are also doubts over whether centre-back duo Ben Davies and Connor Goldson will be able to feature, although encouragingly the pair are “available for selection”, as per Beale.
As such, we predict that the Gers will stick with the same starting XI that claimed a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in a mid-season friendly at the weekend, with 19-year-old Adam Devine set to keep his place at left-back due to the absence of Yilmaz and Croatia international, Borna Barisic.
That makeshift backline will likely see James Sands partner Leon King – who is set for a contract extension – in the centre of defence, while skipper James Tavernier will seemingly slot in at right-back.
Ahead of the back four, Beale should well deploy Ryan Jack alongside Glen Kamara, with the latter man potentially set for a fresh start after reportedly coming to blows with former boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month, having also been branded “disrespectful” by pundit Noel Whelan for seemingly angling for an exit.
In attack, Malik Tillman will likely retain his place in a playmaking role after his double against the Bundesliga side last time out, with the 20-year-old set to be flanked by Rabbi Matondo and contract rebel, Ryan Kent.
As for the centre forward berth, the league’s joint-top scorer Antonio Colak should well keep his place ahead of Alfredo Morelos, with the 5 foot 10 “pub amateur” – as branded by journalist Graham Spiers – having scored just three times this season.