
Mikey Moore set for Rangers debut alongside two others in predicted XI for Alloa
Rangers will look to kickstart their domestic campaign this evening when they host Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup - and it could provide Russell Martin with an ample opportunity to ring the changes.
Despite guiding his new-look team to the play-off round of the Champions League - where they will face Belgium's Club Brugge - Gers have already fallen behind Celtic in the Premiership having drawn both of their opening league matches.
While summer recruits Djeidi Gassama and Oliver Antman have made impressive starts at Ibrox, Rangers ' tendency to give up goal-scoring chances has been a cause for concern, and without Jack Butland in midweek the 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen away from home could have looked a lot more ugly.
And having missed out on the Premier Sports Cup to Celtic via a penalty shootout last year, Light Blues fans are desperate to get their hands on the first piece of silverware that will be up for grabs, and Martin will be looking for a dominant performance against the Wasps tonight.
The former Southampton boss made just two alterations from the side that were held to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox last week in their European trip to the Czech Republic on Tuesday but more are to be expected this evening, with several players in need of some minutes.
Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore and Norway international Thelo Aasgaard are both in line to make their Rangers debuts, and should prove Martin with some real dynamism in attacking areas.
Striker Cyriel Dessers limped off with a serious looking ankle problem in Plzen, and while his injury is not as bad as first feared, the Nigerian will sit this one out. That should see Danilo restored to the starting line-up, with fellow frontman Hamza Igamane set to make the bench after getting back up to speed.
Emmanuel Fernandez is yet to kick a ball in a competitive sense for Gers and will be hoping to get an opportunity while Connor Barron will be desperate to be handed a start for the first time this season.
Kieran Dowell and Bailey Rice will vie to partner the former Aberdeen man at the base of the midfield despite Record Sport learning that Motherwell want to bring the latter back to Fir Park.
Max Aarons may have to operate at left back with Jefte poised to head back to Brazil and Ridvan Yilmaz also heading for the exit door, with skipper James Tavernier likely to hold down his right back spot on the opposite flank.
Stopper Butland was Rangers' savour in midweek but will Martin give some minutes to back-up keeper Liam Kelly? We'll have to wait and see on that one.
Record Sport has offered up a potential line-up for the cup clash at Ibrox.
Predicted XI
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland
Liam Kelly
Kieran Wright
Defenders
Max Aarons
Nasser Djiga
Emmanuel Fernandez
Leon King
John Souttar
James Tavernier
Jefte
Midfielders
Nedim Bajrami
Connor Barron
Lyall Cameron
Oscar Cortes
Mohamed Diomande
Kieran Dowell
Djiedi Gassama
Nico Raskin
Joe Rothwell
Oliver Antman
Forwards
Hamza Igamane
Josh Gentles
Danilo
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