
With a ridiculous raft of injuries once again plaguing all things Rangers, picking the starting XI to face Benfica is sadly a lot easier than it should be.
Manager Philippe Clement not only has the appalling level of injury to deal with, but he’s missing key players through UEFA rules as well, and is borderline down to barebones for the Lisbon trip.
The definitely (probably) availables are:
Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Davies, Ridvan, Barisic, Lundstram, Raskin, Sterling, Diomande Jack, Lawrence, Roofe, Silva, Dessers.
And unless we’ve forgotten anyone, that’s it.
It’s pretty slim pickings.
Defence will be Tav, Goldson, Souttar and Ridvan, unless Clement chooses Davies over Souttar or Barisic over Ridvan. Davies has actually been surprisingly good in this competition.
Midfield is Lunny and Diomande.
And then playmaker, Lawrence. There’s no one else unless we count Diomande.
Wingers, Sterling and Silva, up front Dessers.
That’s it in a nutshell.
So your Ibrox Noise XI:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Ridvan; Lundstram, Diomande; Lawrence; Sterling, Silva, Dessers.
We have no wingers so Sterling will stay there and Silva will join him as he did at the weekend, while Lawrence will be the playmaker. There may be some swap and interchange here.
It’s very much stretched thin. Bench options are abysmal.
Goodness.