Rangers should hand Barjonas a start over Holt against Aberdeen

Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers face Aberdeen and Derek McInnes at Ibrox on Wednesday evening.

Two straight losses must force interim manager Graeme Murty to come out of his comfort zone and try something new if is he is to secure three points for Rangers against Aberdeen, and indeed the full-time Ibrox job.

The Gers go up against Derek McInnes’ Dons at Ibrox on Wednesday night, as defeats to Hamilton and Dundee have seen them fall adrift of the Scottish Premiership’s top three sides.

Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibernian are beginning to steal a march on the Scottish giants and Murty must win his third of five games in charge if the Light Blues are to have any chance of finishing in second place behind Celtic this season.

Graham Dorrans and Jordan Rossiter remain sidelined for the Gers, which has seen Murty start Ryan Jack alongside Jason Holt in the middle of the park during his four games in charge after Dorrans was injured in Pedro Caixinha’s last game in charge.

But 24-year-old Holt has come in for huge criticism from sections of the Ibrox crowd for his performances and the tough-tackling midfielder should be dropped in order to freshen things up in midfield.

It should see Murty hand a chance to 18-year-old academy starlet Jamie Barjonas, who continues to impress for the club’s second string as well as catching the eye in a number of first-team outings.

The teenager has started just one of his six Premiership outings for Rangers throughout his career, proving crucial in the Gers’ 2-1 win over St. Johnstone towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign alongside Jon Toral.

The Scotland Under-19 international boasts impressive technical abilities and shows a willingness to get forward and offer creativity from deep, something the Gers are missing with a defensive-minded Holt alongside Jack.

Barjonas’ morale will also be high after putting pen to paper on a two-year extension with the Scottish giants earlier this month, which could see him raise his level of performance.

Combining Jack and Barjonas will give Rangers the perfect midfield combination, with the latter looking to get forward and attack while Scotland international Jack will sit deep as the Gers look to sweep aside Aberdeen and earn a crucial three points at Ibrox.