With Rangers curiously choosing Clinton Nsiala as the poster boy for this weekend’s Murrayfield friendly against Premier League giants Manchester United, it’s safe to say Rangers supporters’ expectations for a match against such a lofty opponent aren’t terribly high.

Of course, we’ll get plenty of ‘it’s only a friendly ffs’ especially if Rangers lose, but there’s no denying we’re closing dramatically in on the start of the domestic season.

Two weeks on Saturday Rangers travel to Tynecastle to open the campaign, and another bad friendly performance and result could hurt morale even more than the sliver of the stuff we currently have.

Rangers aren’t in a good place right now, we could be as bold and maybe fatalistic to say it’s the worst place our club has been since 2018 and the early fledgling Steven Gerrard days – it’s certainly by far the worst preseason we’ve had for many years.

Only two others spring to mind – 2012 and 2015 – 2012, because we were now preparing for life in the Third Division, 2015 because we’d just been gubbed by a horrendous Motherwell side on our first attempt at promotion.

But where the club right now is very much limbo – no home, and no quality players coming in any time soon.

Which means by the time it’s 90 minutes in Edinburgh, Rangers will be just 14 days away from the start of the new campaign, and we’re in no fit state whatsoever.

Man Utd?

Well they’ve put their faith in Eric ten Hag, who has made just one marginally-notable signing himself this summer in Joshua Zirkzee, so they are hardly in a shining position of brilliance themselves, but they are still head and shoulders above Rangers.

It will be a very long 90 minutes, and if Nsiala is starting, we certainly hope he shines gloriously and surprises us all with a good display. But then this manager has already admitted he’s not ready to.

So we’re really not too sure why he’s the poster boy.

But in terms of injuries, last we heard it’s still Tavernier, Cantwell and now Nico Raskin unavailable, while Danilo is still not that fit at all.

A surprise place for Sam Lammers? Don’t be shocked if there is. Might even see Hamza Igamane in there too.

Rangers fans were disappointed at the lack of new signings v Ajax, maybe that will change v Man Utd.

Not that there are too many of the things in fairness, Rangers’ window has been very, very poor thus far.

But we will hope for a win v Utd and a little bit of a boost to morale because we need SOMETHING good from Rangers!