Michael Beale has today confirmed Croatia’s Borna Barisic will be out for a little while, missing the next two for sure and possibly Motherwell as well, as the club left back recovers from his world cup adventure.
Currently back in his homeland, Barisic didn’t really get a lot of minutes out in Qatar, making just the one appearance against Japan (and doing rather well), but has been given a bit of time off by the club and the optimistic belief from Beale and the management staff is he will be ready in time for the 28th and the visit of the Steelmen.
But it could well be that young Adam Devine holds onto that slot into 2023, with the natural right back not disgracing himself against Hibernian even if his limitations as such a young full back were rather exposed a little.
Nevertheless, he faces no competition for the position unless Beale elects to select Ben Davies at LB and Leon King and Connor Goldson in the middle, Davies an experienced LB from his earlier years in football, and probably wouldn’t struggle too much there.
But the chances are it’ll be Devine in there, but he’ll need some protection from the more senior players around him.
Beale said:
“Borna is back in Croatia, we hope to have him back for the Motherwell game.”
Whether this is just pure R&R following the World Cup or a bit of credence to some slim reports we heard of an injury for the Croat we’re not 100% on, but either way he probably won’t be in a Rangers shirt this year unless he does make Motherwell.
Time will tell on that one, and Ridvan is obviously miles away from a recovery.
So, for now, the jersey is young Adam Devine’s to lose we think, even if it’s far from the ideal solution, even if a lot of Rangers fans are eager for him to keep his slot, probably on romantic notions of Rangers’ youth. Which we understand, but we want the best players, and as things stand, Devine, good or bad, is our only player there for now.