Steven Gerrard has pulled a shock by dropping Filip Helander and Jon McLaughlin for this evening’s clash with the Imps and replacing them with George Edmundson and Allan McGregor, which may suggest the pair are going to get game time in cup competitions especially the ‘lesser’ rounds.

Edmundson, who had an excellent pre-season, was blind-sided by the excellent form of new signing Leon Balogun, and was unable to get any major impression beyond a place on the bench following the acquisition of the Nigeria international.

But with the ex-Wigan and Werder man out injured, it was expected Swede Helander would keep his place for tonight’s UEL opener in Gibraltar, but the selection of the former Oldham defender hints that the youngest defender on Rangers’ senior payroll might be finding a lot of minutes in the qualifiers for the UEL, as well as other cup routes.

As for McGregor, he might just find the 2008 Manchester roles reversed, where he now gets some match time in the cups, and the current number one, McLaughlin, will be used more in the league.

It’s an interesting twist, and it’s good to see the manager use the full resources of his squad.

Naturally there’s no place at all for Jordan Jones.

Developing story.