Manager to play Rangers midfielder in defence for upcoming clash – report

Sat 4 November 2017 10:13, UK

By Danny Wright

Scotland interim manager Malkay Mackay will play Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack in defence when the Tartan Army face the Netherlands in a friendly clash at Pittodrie next Thursday, according to a report.

The Scottish Sun claims that Jack, 25, will earn his maiden international cap at right-back, in the usual spot of Celtic’s Kieran Tierney in the national side.

Tierney, 20, is said to be starting as a left-sided centre-back with Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson continuing to keep his spot at left-back.

Rangers ace Jack started his career playing as a right-back but has since been converted into a midfielder, where he has always played since moving to Ibrox from Aberdeen in the summer.

The ex-Dons star has recently had his second red card of the season rescinded by the Scottish FA after an altercation with Kilmarnock’s Kirk Broadfoot at Ibrox last week in Pedro Caixinha’s final game in charge.

Caretaker boss Graeme Murty is expected to keep Jack in his side against Partick this week now that his ban has been uplifted, with him likely to play alongside Jason Holt in the deeper-lying central roles as Graham Dorrans remains out with an injury.

Scotland’s clash against the Netherlands next week is their final fixture of the year after failing to reach the World Cup qualification play-offs last month.