Rangers captain James Tavernier has been ruled out of the pivotal Glasgow Derby clash against Celtic on 2 January, delivering a massive blow to under-pressure boss Philippe Clement.
The skipper’s absence adds to a growing list of defensive woes for Rangers, who face the daunting task of closing a 14-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Tavernier joins a growing injury list that leaves Clement scrambling to piece together a backline capable of halting Celtic’s attacking firepower. Also unavailable are John Souttar and right-back Neraysho Kasanwirjo, while Leon Balogun faces a “small chance” of featuring, having missed the recent 2-2 draw with Motherwell. [RecordSport]
This leaves Rangers worryingly thin in defence, forcing Clement to rely on makeshift solutions against a rampant Celtic side that has scored 52 league goals this season while conceding just four.
The injury crisis comes at the worst possible time for Clement, who is already under intense scrutiny following a poor run of results. A 2-1 defeat to St Mirren was followed by a disappointing draw against Motherwell, leaving Rangers fans questioning the Belgian’s leadership.
In stark contrast to their rivals, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic head into the clash brimming with confidence. Unbeaten in domestic competition this season, the Hoops have netted 14 goals in their last five league games, including a dominant 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Celtic Park.
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