This is obviously a slight spot of conjecture on Ibrox Noise’s part, but just how are Philippe Clement’s Rangers shaping up for the second half of the season?

The January window does have a few days to go, meaning everything is subject to change, but as of now, including a little supposition, what is the strongest XI the Belgian has?

We will crudely assume that both Jefte and Cortes do join before the window shuts.

So, in goal, obviously it’s Butland. Sadly for Robby McCrorie, he hasn’t really impressed with the small chances he’s had.

Back four?

Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan. That’s five, because there’s going to be rotation between those three central defenders. Clement has started to be willing to pair Balogun and Souttar. Otherwise, that’s the defence. Jefte, assuming he arrives, isn’t just straight into the starting XI over Ridvan.

Midfield:

It has to be Lundstram and Sterling.

They have absolutely shone the past 6 weeks, and while Clement is going to rotate, with Jack and Raskin, for us Lunny and Sterling is first pick.

Attacking midfield is where things get interesting.

Tom Lawrence and Todd Cantwell were our only 10s but new boy Diomande is now here. Cantwell isn’t having a good season at all, and the former has to prove his fitness. Diomande will expect to play although fundamentally he’s just a versatile midfielder but his main position is admittedly CM.

On the wings? We’d have Matondo on the left and potential new boy Cortes on the right. With switching of course.

Up front it has to be Dessers.

So our final primary XI going forward, subject to a lot of rotation of course:

Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan; Sterling, Lundstram; Matondo, Diomande, Cortes; Dessers.

This leaves:

McCrorie, Goldson, Barisic, Jefte, Raskin, Jack, Cifuentes, McCausland, Cantwell, Wright, Lawrence, Silva.

And out injured:

Davies, Dowell, Roofe, Lowry, Sima and Danilo.

Is it the best squad Rangers have ever had? No, it isn’t, but it’s in better shape than it felt like it was a month ago.

Diomande is the big January addition, we hope Cortes joins him, but with Dessers now almost like a new signing and a bench with a healthy level of depth, it’s got enough about it to take a decent fight to Celtic.

Celtic’s team isn’t great, but they have players with big market values. Rangers don’t, but this might just be greater than the sum of its parts.

We’ll see.