Sterling & Bajrami start: predicted Rangers XI v Malmo | OneFootball

So it’s time for the raw football side of things, and figuring out the XI that Rangers manager Philippe Clement is likely to select come Thursday night.

The only things we know for sure basically at this point is that Jefte won’t play and James Tavernier will, so with that in mind, who do we think the Belgian will pick?

In goals is easy, it’s Jack Butland.

Defence isn’t that tough either, Tav on the right, Souttar and Propper in the middle. It’s the left that’s a bit tricky. Jefte isn’t available, Ridvan isn’t fit, and Robbie Fraser is very unlikely to be risked at this level. So it’s going to be Dujon Sterling, isn’t it?

In midfield, Mohamed Diomande hasn’t been delivering too well, and Connor Barron hasn’t been maybe quite as explosive as he was in the first few matches, but we don’t see the boss dropping either of them. Not that we want Barron ditched, he’ll get his form back.

Clement has also been going often with a three in the middle, so could Raskin start in there?

Attacking midfield has been seeing more and more of Bajrami on the left, while Tom Lawrence seems to have monopolised the middle. On the right it surely has to be Cerny, assuming he remains in good health.

And up front it’ll be Dessers.

So your (probably completely wrong) Ibrox Noise predicted XI:

Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Sterling; Barron, Diomande; Lawrence; Bajrami, Cerny; Dessers

We mean, it’s not a bad XI in all fairness, aside LB, but we do wonder when Bajrami will be put in the middle, his favoured slot.