Motherwell v Rangers injury news: 6 out and 5 doubts as Russell Martin sweats over inclusion of key trio
In the away dug out, Russell Martin will be buoyed by his side's 3-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifiers, but will have full focus on ensuring his new look Ibrox squad begins their domestic campaign with a bang at they aim to overthrow Celtic as the club's dominant force this season.
Meanwhile, new Motherwell head coach Jens Berthel Askou will be hoping to take the club's strong Premier Sports Cup form into the league, with the Danish boss side hoping his team can pick up an opening day result on home soil against tough opposition.
Both sides have injuries worries ahead of the clash, however, with up to 10 players potentially missing the game on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game at Fir Park, The Scotsman has all the latest team news:
1 . Mikey Moore - Rangers - DOUBT
Signed from Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan on Friday, it's unclear if the 17-year-old has received international clearance in time, so it's not yet known if he will be in the squad for the season opener vs Motherwell. | SNS Group Photo Sales
2 . Dujon Sterling - Rangers - OUT
The versatile defender picked up an Achilles injury in last season's Europa League clash with Atletico Bilbao, and is not expected to return until at least the turn of the year. | Getty Images Photo Sales
3 . Aston Oxborough - Motherwell - DOUBT
Has missed the majority of pre-season with injury, but was able to play 30 minutes of the pre-season friendly draw with Hertha Berlin. Will he be fit enough to start the game against Rangers? | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales
4 . Jordan McGhee - Motherwell - OUT
Signed in the summer from Dundee, he will miss at least the first month of the season with thigh injury he picked up during pre-season. | SNS Group Photo Sales
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Club Brugge win away to RB Salzburg
Club Brugge look in good shape for a potential Champions League play-off with Rangers after winning away at RB Romeo Vermant got across his man to steer home an excellent delivery from Bjorn Meijer on 74 minutes for the first-leg's only are in a very strong position to progress to the final hurdle before the league phase of the tournament after a 3-0 victory over Czech side Viktoria Plzen on Russell Martin's side complete the job against Plzen, they will be at home in the first leg of the play-off, which is scheduled for 19 August.
South Wales Guardian
16 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Alexander Isak reports for Newcastle training after rest of squad leave
The 25-year-old Sweden international did not travel with his team-mates on their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea, ostensibly because of a minor thigh injury, after Liverpool, who subsequently tabled a £110million bid for him, let it be known they remained interested in acquiring his services. Isak, who later informed the club he wanted to explore his options this summer, instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad and returned to Tyneside at the weekend, shortly before head coach Eddie Howe and his squad landed back from Seoul and were given two days off. The players were back at the training ground on Wednesday morning and their families were invited to join them after training. However, the PA news agency understands Isak, who reported back to the club's Benton base on Monday, was told not to come in until after they had left and was pictured arriving at around 1550. The £63million frontman has been a huge hit since his arrival from Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and played a key role last season as they ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. However questioned about his absence in South Korea, Howe signalled that his actions might have repercussions. The 47-year-old told reporters: 'You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. 'The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here. 'We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.' Isak is understood to have undergone treatment and light training at a deserted training ground on Monday and it remains to be seen whether he will have any involvement in the club's pre-season fixtures against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. The striker faces clear-the-air talks with Howe, with his situation becoming seemingly more complicated by the day as a difficult transfer window threatens to spiral further out of control. Newcastle tabled an improved club record bid for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko on Monday in an effort to beat Manchester United to the punch, but developments since suggest the 22-year-old is more likely to head for Old Trafford than St James' Park. That would represent the latest blow in a transfer window which has already seen the Magpies miss out on major targets Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford and Liam Delap. They have managed to recruit Nottingham Forest wide man Anthony Elanga and, on loan, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, but with frontman Callum Wilson and midfielder Sean Longstaff having left, there is significant work to be done, with the start of the new season just 10 days away. Howe was already looking for a striker before the Isak situation came to a head and, with three years remaining on the Swede's current deal – he has so far resisted the club's overtures to sign a new contract – there seems to be little prospect of the club allowing him to leave either before they have secured a replacement or for much less than their £150m valuation, having already rebuffed Liverpool's initial approach. Meanwhile, sources on Tyneside have played down suggestions that Newcastle have tabled a bid for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, but it is understood they are maintaining an interest in the Germany international.
Edinburgh Reporter
17 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
David Gray expects tough test and hostile environment against FK Partizan
David Gray expects a tough test against FK Partizan tomorrow in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Since the return of competitive football this season, his players have put in three positive performances – drawing twice in normal time with Champions League regulars FC Midtjylland and picking up their first three points of the season at Dundee. He said: 'I expect a tough test and a hostile environment,' 'With the level of performance we've had in the last three games, the players should be going over there full of confidence. We're really looking forward to the challenge, it'll be a tough test, one some of the players haven't had before, but we will make sure they're ready. 'It's a new, different challenge. A lot of the players have played at Celtic Park, Ibrox, Tynecastle. These are big pressure games with big crowds. Yes, it'll be slightly different because of the hostile fans in the home end and the temperature of the stadium, but it's something the players should relish and look forward too. 'We need to believe we can go there and get a positive result. If we can play to our very best, like we have in the last few games, we know we're a good side.' In terms of team news, Gray will have a similar squad available to him, but he was able to provide a more positive update on Nicky Cadden. 'Nicky picked up a hamstring issue. I don't think we will be ready for Thursday. It's only a mild issue, so we won't take any risks at this stage, but apart from him, Rudi, and Joe, everyone else is available from the squad that was in Dundee. 'We're another week fitter, stronger, and the players need to feed off the feel good feeling at the training ground at the minute.' Like this: Like Related
