Pundit tips Gerrard to axe Rangers star and start Hagi v Celtic
Noel Whelan has tipped Steven Gerrard to bring Ianis Hagi back into the Rangers starting XI against Celtic on Sunday.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Gers boss would go to his “tried and trusted” players for the Scottish Cup tie.
Hagi, 22, started on the bench and played just 18 minutes against Hibernian last week.
He was left as an unused sub for the first Glasgow derby of the season, while he came on at half time for the 1-0 win back in January.
However, he did start Rangers’ last game against Celtic ahead of the likes of Kemar Roofe and Scott Wright.
The game finished 1-1 thanks to goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Alfredo Morelos.
Whelan suggested Gerrard had settled on a “system” when facing the Bhoys.
As such, he suggested Hagi could come back into the starting XI after his cameo against Hibs.
Asked if he expected Gerrard to start Hagi on Sunday, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Yeah. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did. I think he might go back to the tried and trusted when it comes to the Old Firm games.
“I think Steven Gerrard has a way that he knows how he wants to play against Celtic.
“That’s the key now, it’s the system. It is players he knows that he can trust in that position when they’re coming up in the Old Firm.
“Players that can handle the occasion but also handle the players that are out there and pose problems to them as well.
“I think he has a way and a style that he wants to play against Celtic. It’s shown that it’s working because he’s not been beaten by them for a while.”
In other Ibrox news, Rangers have been urged to raise the issue of a release clause in “huge” new contract deal.