I’M PREPARED FOR BIG CALLS
contrast, Ianis Hagi has flourished. But Kent has proved a big player against Celtic, bagging a goal in the 2-1 win across the city 12 months ago.
Gerrard says he won’t ignore the form of his players over the course of the campaign, with Kent enjoying a flying start to the season.
But neither will the Gers boss let sentiment get in the way of selecting his XI.
Gerrard said: “My job is to pick the team. I don’t pick it on sentiment, I pick it on players I think will get the job done.
“I’ve got tough decisions to t make at the weekend but b I’m not the first Rangers R manager to have tough t decisions going into i an Old Firm match.
“I’ve had a selection dilemma d since the first game g of the season.
“We’ve got good players all a fighting for positions.
“There were good players p not getting on the pitch p who have been doing well. w That’s the squad you need n at Rangers.”
Gerrard’s midfield has been b hit hard, with Ryan Jack J and Scott Arfield out.
And the absence of the influential i duo means they t will lose a bit of steel from f their engine room in a fixture where it is crucial.
But that is where the Ibrox I gaf fer reckons moving m to recruit Bongani Zungu Z has been vital.
The return to top form of o Joe Aribo following a spell s out injured has also been crucial.
Gerrard said: “Ryan being out for the amount of time he has, has been a real disappointment for me. Scott’s absence is a bit of bad luck from a challenge he had against Hibs, so it does make us slightly light in that area.
“But having Bongani there is a big help.
“It was important we got someone in the door before the window shut.
“Getting Bongani up to speed was the priority because over the course of the season, with the schedule we have, we were always going to get a knock or two. Joe getting back up to speed and back to form as quick as he has is a real positive.
“Both him and Glen Kamara were superb against St Mirren.
“S t even Dav i s , aside from one or two moments early on, again showed why he is so important to us as well.”
Rangers have lost just once all season, which came against St Mirren in the Betfred Cup, but took revenge for that defeat with their Paisley win.
And Gerrard added: “I judge my players over the course of a season, not just on the one game. Everyone has an off night.
“I took responsibility for that because the team we picked, the way we played, everything was on me.
“But in the main, if you judge my players from the start of the season until now, it’s unjustified to question their mentality.
“We know we have to keep it going and show we can go the duration of the season, not just the first six months of it.”
One certain starter at Ibrox tomorrow is Old Firm veteran Al lan McGregor, who made his 400th appearance for the club against the Buddies in what is his second spell.
The 38-year-old marked the milestone with another clean sheet.
Gerrard said: “Allan has been in great form. The clean-sheet record this season has been really strong. We defended really well against St Mirren.
“We were much better organised than the last time we played them.
“Good for him keeping a clean sheet on his 400th appearance. Let’s hope he can keep another one on his 401st.”