26-yr-old must not play v Celtic: Three things learned about Rangers in win v St Johnstone
Alves’ starting XI return looks further away
Bruno Alves could only make do with a place on the bench against St. Johnstone and with the form Russell Martin and David Bates have shown in recent weeks, the veteran Portugal defender’s return to first-team action looks to be a while away.
Despite conceding a fairly cheap goal while 4-0 up, Bates and Martin barely put a foot wrong all night as the Gers defenders dealt with nearly everything Tommy Wright’s side threw at them.
Alves might come into the side against Falkirk in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox but if Murty is picking his team on form and not reputation – and it looks as though he is – the Alves will be sat with the other substitutes on Sunday too.
Despite Alves having World Cup ambitions this summer, the form of Martin and Bates has been too good to axe one or the other to bring Alves back into the starting XI.
Came off the bench in the last 15 minutes after an injury scare for Jamie Murphy.
In other Rangers news, Murty confirms big double Rangers fitness boost for clash v St Johnstone
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