Picking a Rangers XI these days is nowhere near as ‘easy’ as it once was, with manager Philippe Clement both completely predictable while also surprising fans completely with selections they didn’t see coming.

That said, Ibrox Noise is going to have a go at predicting the XI we reckon the manager will go with when Motherwell join ourselves at Hampden tomorrow in Rangers’ first home fixture of the season.

In goal, clearly Butland. A much better display the last two outings, a bad preseason seems to be forgotten and he’s a bit more like his old self.

Defence:

Without any doubt, Tavernier is first-pick. It’s 100% absolute and he starts if he plays. Always been the case, aside the brief spells on the bench he ‘suffered’ when Lee Hodson was at Ibrox, and the rise of Nathan Patterson.

On the other side it’s Ridvan – he’s first pick, even if his manager did him no favours midweek.

Centre? We see a debut for Robin Propper – he’s ready, paperwork is in place, he’s fit, and he should start. Alongside him it’s a toss up between John Souttar and Leon Balogun. Neither were completely outstanding v Kyiv but we’d say Balogun shades it.

In midfield there’s a bit of complication. Connor Barron has been outstanding and surely starts, while Mohamed Diomande has been underwhelming at best. But he’s also a Clement favourite and we really can’t see the manager picking Dujon Sterling in his place. Even if he should.

Attacking midfield might see Todd Cantwell back in training but we’d be surprised if he’s even on the bench. Tom Lawrence surely, based on having no one else for that position at all as Dowell.

Wings?

We’ve lost Oscar Cortes for quite a long time, and Rangers fans are sick to the death of Scott Wright. Vaclav Cerny still isn’t fully fit but we’ve already seen some of what he can do, while Rabbi Matondo still isn’t shining. Ross McCausland had a good match in Kyiv.

Lastly, the surprise and impressive appearance of Jefte there v the Ukranians gives us something to think about.

Up front it’s Cyriel Dessers, he’s the best we have, simple as that.

So your Ibrox Noise predicted XI:

Butland; Tavernier, Balogun, Propper, Ridvan; Barron, Diomande; Jefte, Lawrence, Cerny; Dessers.

There’s a bit of what we ‘want’ to happen in there too, why do we feel like Scott Wright will still start anyway…

But that’s what we’re going with.