Kilmarnock v Rangers: David Bates and Myles Beerman set for Gers debuts
Wednesday 5 April 2017 19:39, UK
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha took the unusual step of naming his starting line-up 36 hours early ahead of their trip to Kilmarnock after injury problems.
Skipper Lee Wallace will miss Wednesday's trip to Rugby Park, live on Sky Sports 2, as he faces up to four weeks out with a stomach injury, while centre-backs Clint Hill, Rob Kiernan (both calf) and Philippe Senderos (knee) are out.
Full-back Lee Hodson (fever), midfielder Jon Toral (knee) and long-term casualties Jordan Rossiter (calf) and Niko Kranjcar (knee) are also missing, with youngsters David Bates and teenage full-back Myles Beerman set to make their first-team debuts against Killie.
Gers will start with Wes Foderingham in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, 20-year-old centre-back Bates, Danny Wilson and Beerman. Andy Halliday and Jason Holt will play in midfield, while Joe Garner will be supported by Barrie McKay, Emerson Hyndman and Martyn Waghorn.
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Caixinha has overseen a 4-0 win over Hamilton and a 1-1 draw with Motherwell at Ibrox since he was appointed last month, and faces his first away fixture on Wednesday but he says there is not much difference between home and away games.
"It is not important which players are out and which players are in," said Caixinha. "It's important the players we have starting the game we trust and believe in. After all, we're Rangers. And the players from our youth squad have to be ready when these chances come. So this is the moment.
"I've passed my trust and confidence to the guys. Now I've told them to go to Kilmarnock, enjoy it and do their work. This is our first one playing away but I've already told the players that playing away or playing at home is exactly the same thing. Three points is really what matters.
"We know the opponent will make it difficult but we also know that we believe in ourselves and are ready to fight for the points."
Kilmarnock caretaker boss Lee McCulloch fears his preparations for the visit of his former club could be hampered by injuries.
A number of his players are nursing bumps and bruises after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Inverness and McCulloch, who spent eight years with Rangers as a player, admitted he will have to leave it late before naming his starting line-up.
He said: "We only trained with eight bodies [on Monday] which obviously isn't ideal.
"We will just have to give a few players right up until kick-off before we give them a fitness test."
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