Rangers are without four senior defenders against Kilmarnock – if only Mark Warburton had not discarded two talented youngsters.
Pedro Caixinha may have only taken charge of two games in the Scottish Premiership but the Portuguese is already writing headlines.
As if his decision to revert to the most makeshift of back-threes, including attacking midfielder’s Jon Toral and Andy Halliday, against Motherwell wasn’t continental enough, Caixinha has now taken the unusual step of revealing his team selection a day early, the Daily Record reports.
Though it’s unlikely to fill fans with excitement ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Kilmarnock. Thanks to a poorly-timed injury crisis, Clint Hill, Rob Kiernan, Lee Wallace and Lee Hodson all unavailable, academy starlets David Bates and Myles Beerman are poised to make their debuts.
And this will only revive the debate that former Rangers boss Mark Warburton was lacking in foresight in last summer’s transfer window. Caixinha’s predecessor released talented centre-back Luca Gasparotto (below), who had impressed on his rare opportunities in the first-team, while also giving the boot to fellow Canada international Fraiser Aird.
However, with the defensive duo both impressive in the division below, helping Falkirk to second in the table and giving them a fighting chance of a return to the top flight, Caixinha may be wishing he could call upon them as Rangers attempt to cope with huge absences at the back.
6ft 1ins Gasparotto possessed both the stature and the height to replace the under-fire Kiernan at centre-back while Aird’s energy and attacking intent (below) could at least offer some cover to James Tavernier on the right.
Yes, it’s not every day that four of your regular defensive starters are ruled out at the same time. But Warburton’s summer cull means there is a distinct lack of available to Caixinha.
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