Rangers take on Kilmarnock this evening – and the Ibrox club are suffering a defensive injury crisis.
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has told The Scottish Sun that young defenders Myles Beerman and David Bates will both start against Kilmarnock this evening.
The Gers travel to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock this evening, just days after a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Motherwell.
New boss Caixinha will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Killie, but he will make the trip without five defenders due to various injury problems.
Lee Hodson, Clint Hill, Rob Kiernan, Philippe Senderos and Lee Wallace are all missing, as is playmaker Jon Toral, who spent to the second half of Saturday’s game with Motherwell playing as a centre back.
In a surprise move though, Rangers boss Caixinha has already announced his starting line-up for tonight’s clash with Kilmarnock, and it features two young defenders.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Caixinha revealed that young full back Myles Beerman will take Wallace’s place on the left hand side of defence, whilst centre back David Bates will partner Danny Wilson in the heart of the back line.
“I can tell you the 11 who will start the game — it’s Wes, James, David, Danny, Myles, Andy, Jason, Emerson, Barrie, Joe and Martyn,” said Caixinha. “It’s not a question of that’s all we have. It’s a question of confidence in the players in the first team, as well as youth players who work with us on a regular basis.”
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
“It doesn’t matter if Kilmarnock know my first team. Lee McCulloch will not be able to change anything about the way he plays. We know it will be a tough game and we will have to adapt. This is the reality. I don’t care if they think differently knowing our team 24 hours before we play,” he added.
Maltese ace Beerman, 18, joined Rangers from Manchester City in 2016, penning a two-year deal with the Gers having spent two years with City, and this will be his professional debut as he’s thrust into action by Caixinha.
Centre back Bates has been in the Rangers squad throughout this season having arrived from Raith Rovers back in August, and his loan move became permanent in January. Whilst he has no league appearances for Rangers, he has some experience from spells with Raith, East Stirlingshire and Brechin City, with the 20-year-old now set for his top flight debut.
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