Rangers manager Philippe Clement has evaded talk on the defence after failing to deny Connor Goldson will be straight back into the team on Sunday, or to confirm Leon Balogun would keep his place.

Speaking before Rangers begin the critical Split fixtures, the boss explained that he’s very happy with all four defenders that he has, and he analyses each fixture to see who would be best for that particular match.

Rangers supporters would understandably be a bit sceptical of this given Goldson has been completely untouchable under Clement and every other manager since he joined, and we’re not sure we quite buy the notion that Clement weighs it all up pre-match.

If he did, he’d have dropped the players not performing, like Goldson, and restored the likes of Leon Balogun long before now.

Intriguingly though, Clement is officially omitting Leon King as a viable option by the use of ‘four’ defenders:

Goldson, Souttar, Balogun and Davies.

This means King is surplus and not considered anything like a first-team pick and is barely a sub.

And it’s true – King didn’t develop, just like McCausland hasn’t, and both of these Auchenhowie graduates might have had their chances but just didn’t shine in any way before losing their places.

But it’s the clear statement from Clement that those four are his centre-back choices and King isn’t a fifth.

But also that lack of denial that Goldson would not be straight back in, or confirmation that Balogun would keep his place is very conspicuous so we’d be anything but shocked if Goldson is right back in defence same as always.

And it has been suggested John Souttar is the one who will make way, for a Goldson Balogun rearguard. All because Souttar had a slightly ‘lesser’ match v Hearts.

If that is what happens, a lot of fans really won’t be happy.