Alex Rae warns Rangers star Pena nowhere near ready for Celtic clash

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Rangers must make a choice on who starts up front against Celtic this weekend.

Alex Rae has urged Rangers to start Kenny Miller ahead of Carlos Pena this weekend against Celtic.

Prolific striker Alfredo Morelos is a certainty to start, but a question remains as to who plays in support of him.

Speaking to Ladbrokes Facebook Live, Rae believes Pena is not ready to feature in such a big game and Miller’s experience is required.

Rae said: “The boy Pena is nowhere near fit enough to go into a game of that magnitude.

“Its helter skelter, Celtic have plenty of legs. If you put him in there it would be a wee bit of a risk.

“I’d put Kenny Miller in, he’s been rested this week, he knows what it takes.”

Pena, 27, was a summer signing for the Light Blues and has big match experience from his time in Mexico, but may not be prepared for the intensity of Saturday’s Old Firm fixture.

Miller may be a veteran at 38 but he will more be ready to try and make one more splash against rivals Celtic.

Pena is yet to start for Rangers in the league, making all four of his appearances from the bench.

The forward has two goals to his name in all competitions this season and is growing in confidence, but as Rae points out, the Celtic fixture may have come too soon to throw him in, and he may be more comfortable in his usual role as a substitute.