Caixinha favourites axed after Hampden howlers: Rangers best possible XI to play Kilmarnock
COMMENT By James Black
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha will need to make four changes to his side if he wants to field his best possible XI against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
The Gers face Steve Clarke’s side in the Scottish Premiership just a few days after their poor display in the Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat by Motherwell.
Jak Alnwick and Fabio Cardoso will both likely miss out through injury but Caixinha favourites Josh Windass and Carlos Pena should be dropped after their Hampden howlers.
Wes Foderingham, Ross McCrorie, Jason Holt and Niko Kranjcar would be the best choices to replace them as the Gers try close the gap on league leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
Foderingham should start – regardless of an injury to Alnwick – with James Tavernier, Bruno Alves, McCrorie and Declan John ahead of him.
McCrorie and Alves haven’t started alongside one another in a competitive game yet but the young defender has excelled since making the breakthrough into Caixinha’s side.
With Ryan Jack and Graham Dorrans having played together – to varying levels of success – in central midfield, Holt should replace the former Norwich star in the deeper midfielder role with Dorrans moving forward into the number 10 slot vacated by the axed Pena.
Daniel Candeias is the clear choice at right wing but on the opposite side, Windass has had enough chances and must be replaced.
Dalcio, Aaron Nemane and Niko Kranjcar are the main contenders to replace him and Kranjcar should come in to the starting XI.
The introduction of Holt further up the pitch should cover for some of Kranjcar’s immobility.
Ahead of them, Alfredo Morelos should continue to lead the line as he looks to end his scoring drought after five games without a goal.
Morelos made a prolific start to his Rangers career but has struggled for goals in recent weeks.
In other Rangers news, Caixinha has said who should be to blame for the Hampden Park loss.
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