After what feels like an eternity, we’re finally back to the action we crave. The international break may have lasted only two weeks, but for Rangers fans, it seemed like a lifetime, especially after that disappointing result against the other side of Glasgow. This Sunday, our focus shifts to Tannadice Park as we take on Dundee United at noon. It’s a chance for the team to make amends, and for us, the fans, to see a much-needed bounce-back performance.
A Tough Test at Tannadice
Dundee United, freshly promoted from the Championship, have made a solid start to their Premiership campaign. They’re currently unbeaten with two wins and two draws, sitting third in the league standings—one spot above Rangers. While it’s still early days in the season, the pressure is on for us to climb back up the table. A victory on Sunday could be the perfect springboard to regain our momentum and assert our rightful place near the top.
Squad Updates: The Good and the Bad
Philippe Clement provided a mix of good and bad news regarding the squad. On the positive side, Oscar Cortes took a significant step in his recovery, managing to play 60 minutes in a closed-doors bounce match against Motherwell during the international break. He could be in line for some minutes against Dundee United, which would be a boost for the team’s attacking options.
New signing Nedim Bajrami, who joined Rangers on deadline day, has only had one training session with his new teammates after being away on international duty. Despite this, Bajrami impressed during his time with Albania, receiving praise from their manager, Sylvinho. There’s a chance we could see him feature on Sunday, though the final decision will be made after training.
However, not all news is positive. Ross McCausland picked up a knock while with Northern Ireland, though it doesn’t appear too serious. More concerning is the situation with Danilo, who suffered a ligament injury after a bad slip. Fortunately, the injury isn’t as severe as first feared, but he will be out for around four weeks. Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo, and Danilo remain unavailable, with Ridvan only recently resuming individual training.
Predicted Starting Lineup for Dundee United v Rangers
Given the current squad situation and the need for a strong response, here’s our predicted lineup for the match against Dundee United:
GK: Butland
RB: Tavernier
CB: Souttar
CB: Propper
LB: Jefte
CM: Diomande
CM: Barron
AM: Bajrami
RW: Cerny
LW: Igamane
ST: Dessers
Breaking Down the Changes
Tavernier’s Form and Future
James Tavernier has come under heavy scrutiny for his performances, especially following the poor showing against Celtic. Many fans, myself included, feel he should be benched. However, it seems Clement is backing the captain to keep his place. While his form hasn’t been up to the mark, it’s clear the manager believes in his ability to turn things around. Let’s hope this faith pays off on Sunday.
Defensive Line
Souttar and Propper are expected to start in central defense. We’ve also considered the possibility of Kasanwirjo featuring, potentially at right-back. There’s been some debate about including him or Sterling in that position, but for now, it seems Clement will stick with Tavernier.
Bajrami to Start
Despite only having one training session, we believe Nedim Bajrami should go straight into the number 10 role. Rangers have struggled in this position for too long, and Bajrami’s performances on international duty suggest he’s ready to make an impact. Even if he doesn’t know all his teammates’ names yet, his quality on the pitch could be exactly what we need to unlock Dundee United’s defense.
Igamane’s Chance to Shine
With Rabbi Matondo out and Cortes still working his way back to full fitness, Hamza Igamane deserves his chance. He’s been receiving glowing reports from training and showed promise in his brief cameo against Celtic. It’s time for him to start and make his mark.
Final Thoughts
This game is about more than just three points; it’s about restoring pride and showing that the team can respond to setbacks. Dundee United won’t be pushovers, but this is the perfect opportunity for Rangers to demonstrate their quality and get back on track. With some key players out and others returning to fitness, it will be interesting to see how Clement sets up the team.
The international break is over, and it’s time to get back to what really matters—Rangers football. Let’s hope the boys in blue give us a performance to be proud of on Sunday.