Rangers predicted XI v Celtic: Steven Gerrard to start £3m man, 24-year-old drops out

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Glasgow Rangers boss Steven Gerrard will be hoping to bring three points back to Ibrox in the season’s first Old Firm derby this weekend.

The Light Blues remain top of the Scottish Premiership table as club football prepares to resume after the international break, though Celtic are a point behind and have a game in hand.

As reported by the Daily Record, Gerrard has doubts over the fitness of Allan McGregor, Kemar Roofe, Joe Aribo and Filip Helander.

Alfredo Morelos, meanwhile, isn’t expected back in Scotland until later in the week after representing Colombia, so he could miss out, and Nikola Katic is still recovering from a long-term injury.

With all this in mind, who could start for Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday?

With McGregor potentially absent, summer signing Jon McLaughlin would remain in between the Gers sticks.

Borna Barisic is set to play for Croatia against France after missing his country’s last two games and, providing he emerges unscathed, will start for Rangers on the left flank.

The back four is likely to be completed by Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson and James Tavernier, while Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara could line up just in front of the back line.

Further up, Gerrard could opt for the trio of Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield and Jordan Jones, the latter two having wowed Rangers fans in the last few weeks with their much-improved form.

Up front, meanwhile, Roofe and Morelos’ potential absences could see £3million summer signing Cedric Itten lead the line, replacing the 24-year-old Colombian.

Rangers predicted XI: McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Kamara, Jack; Jones, Arfield, Kent; Itten