‘Who is playing left-back?' ask puzzled Rangers fans as Russell Martin names shock lineup for Alloa clash
Jefte is on his way out of Rangers with a big-money move to Palmeiras looming, while Ridvan Yilmaz is well and truly out of favour at Ibrox amid a potential return to Turkey.
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Rangers boss Russell Martin has made a surprise call in defence
Credit: Getty
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Alloa manager Andy Graham
Credit: PA
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Russell Martin even allowed Robbie Fraser to leave the club permanently as he completed a move to the Scottish Championship to join Neil Lennon's Dunfermline last night.
Rangers are seriously lacking options in that area as things stand with Jefte and Yilmaz's exits on the cards.
And that's quite evident to see in Martin's team selection for tonight's Premier Sports Cup tie against Alloa.
The Rangers boss has made as many as TEN changes from their Champions League qualifier second leg against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday night.
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Nasser Djiga is the only player to keep his place as he won't be available to feature in the Premiership clash against St Mirren next week due to his suspension.
And with Jefte and Yilmaz not being selected, that leaves just Max Aarons and James Tavernier as the manager's only options at full-back, with right-back Dujon Sterling still out injured.
But in a surprise decision, Martin has decided to ONLY name Aarons in the starting side, with Tavernier on the bench.
That's left fans puzzled over who will fill in for Jefte at left-back, should Aarons be deployed in his preferred right side.
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Oscar Cortes looks the most likely option having been named alongside Aarons, Djiga and Manny Fernandez in the first four names on the team-sheet in their match-day graphic, following Liam Kelly who starts between the sticks.
The Colombian could even be starring on the right side, with Aarons back at left-back.
Rangers players look terrified and exposed under Russell Martin
But some fans reckon it could be teenager Bailey Rice as well, despite him never featuring in that position for the Rangers first team.
It will all be made a bit clearer when the game gets underway, but for the time being fans have raised their concerns on social media.
One fan hit out: "WHO at left back?"
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Another said: "Are we playing Cortes left back?"
While someone else replied: "I think he'll be right-back and Aarons left-back, but I'm not sure."
Suggesting it's Rice, another fan said: "I'm predicting Rice at left-back. It has to be him."
Another agreed: "Looks like Baily Rice is retraining as a left-back then."
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