Rangers must start 30-year-old v Kilmarnock to bounce back after Old Firm disappointment

Wed 14 March 2018 19:27, UK

COMMENT

With Rangers captain Lee Wallace playing for the Light Blues development side against Brentford on Wednesday, a return to the first team ought to be just around the corner.

And what better time to boost the down-beat spirit surrounding Ibrox after the weekend’s defeat by announcing the return of their captain against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

His name in the starting XI is a must in order to avoid a miniature blip.

Wallace played the full 90 minutes last week against St Mirren in a bounce game – his first outing since September after undergoing an operation on a groin and hernia issue.

The captain’s assurance at the back was sorely missed against Celtic and with the 30-year-old in the ranks, the result could have been different.

With David Bates likely to be missing this weekend and Russell Martin a doubt with a back injury, the centre-back partnership between Fabio Cardoso and Bruno Alves was tested and failed against the Hoops.

Graeme Murty cannot afford to let their position in the league slide after such a promising second half of the season and with Wallace back in the fold, he can help to shut out Killies attack on Saturday.