Rangers are looking to restore their 23-point advantage at the top of the table
Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe have dropped out of the Rangers starting XI for today’s match against Hamilton Accies
Rangers can take another step towards winning the Scottish Premiership at New Douglas Park this afternoon, and the 36-year-old midfielder misses out on a place in Steven Gerrard’s lineup.
Winning would restore the Ibrox side’s 23-point lead over Celtic, after Neil Lennon’s side beat Motherwell 2-1 on Saturday.
Davis has been rested today alongside Jack, with both dropping to the bench. Roofe joins them ahead of a possible two-match suspension.
Bongani Zungu comes in for a surprise start, while new signings Scott Wright and Jack Simpson are both named among the substitutes.
The first meeting between the sides this season saw Rangers register a 2-0 away win in August, thanks to goals from Ianis Hagi and James Tavernier.
When they faced off at Ibrox in November, Gerrard’s men ran riot with an 8-0 victory.
On that occasion, the goals came courtesy of doubles from Kemar Roofe, Joe Aribo and Tavernier, as well as solitary strikes from Scott Arfield and Brandon Barker.
Gerrard has warned his players not to be complacent, however, with wintery conditions and a plastic pitch awaiting the league leaders this afternoon.
Recalling last season’s shock 1-0 defeat against Brian Rice’s side at Ibrox, Gerrard is quoted by the Sunday Post as saying: “We expect a tough game like we always get there when we face Brian’s team. We only have to go back to last year to realise we can’t go there and underestimate the opponent.
“One thing I will say about Brian’s teams is that they usually come and have a go. We have never really faced a Hamilton team where it has been a complete block for the full game, that’s for sure.
“At times, with the way we play, we are going to be faced with men behind the ball and there is a lot of responsibility on the attacking boys to be creative.
“Having said that, you can win a game in many different ways. It could be a set-piece, it could be a direct play and there are different ways to cause teams problems.
“That has been my full focus, not necessarily what Hamilton are going to do. It is how we are going to go and take the game to Hamilton and try and be creative as we can.”
STARTING XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Zungu, Kamara, Aribo, Hagi, Roofe, Kent
SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Patterson, Balogun, Simpson, Jack, Davis, Wright, Roofe
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