Did Mark Warburton’s Ibrox outfit show off new numbers in pre-season friendly?
For some fans, squad number release day is up there with derby day and deadline day as one of the highlights of the year. But have Rangers spoiled part of the suspense?
Mark Warburton’s men were in action for the first time since last season on Wednesday, seeing off United States Soccer League side Charleston Battery in stormy South Carolina.
A host of new signings were handed run-outs, with one of them, former Accrington midfielder Josh Windass, sealing a 2-1 win late in the second half.
Afterwards, Windass tweeted: “Great run out last night #11”, in reference, presumably, to his shirt number.
If it was about that, does that mean all of last night’s numbers are binding? In which case, starters Wes Foderingham (1), Danny Wilson (6) and Tom Walsh (18) also had new ones to show off.
The same applies for substitutes Matt Gilks (25), Ross McCrorie (22), Clint Hill (3), Ryan Hardie (20), Jordan Thompson (24) and Barrie McKay (10), while trialist Oguchi Onyewu assumed the number 14 shirt.
Onyewu impressed in the number 14 shirt
In contrast, James Tavernier (2), Lee Wallace (5), Kenny Miller (9), Andy Halliday (16), Jason Holt (23) and Martyn Waghorn (33) all retained last season’s numbers.
While you’re probably best waiting for an official announcement before you get that replica shirt printed, here’s a prospective list based on last night’s appearance makers (plus, of course, Joey Barton, who’s acquired the vacant number 8):
(*denotes new number)
1) Foderingham*
2) Tavernier
3) Hill*
5) Wallace
6) Wilson*
8) Barton*
9) Miller
10) McKay*
11) Windass*
15) Forrester
16) Halliday
18) Walsh*
20) Hardie*
23) Holt
24) Thompson*
25) Gilks*
29) O’Halloran
33) Waghorn
Seniors who didn’t feature:
Lee Hodson
Rob Kiernan (4 last season)
Robbie Crawford (21)
Liam Burt (62)
Jordan Rossiter
Matt Crooks
Niko Kranjcar
Could Kranjcar take Rangers’ number 7 shirt?
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