Clement says Rangers squad can cope with packed calendar

Clement says Rangers squad can cope with packed calendar

Rangers boss Phillipe Clement insists his squad have the necessary strength in depth to handle their gruelling upcoming schedule.

His team will face no fewer than 11 games between now and the end of January, starting with a tricky Boxing Day trip to St Mirren.

 

Prior to the Old Firm showdown at Ibrox on January 2, they also have an away trip to Motherwell, while Brendan Rodgers’ side have home games against the Steelmen and bottom club St Johnstone over that same period.

With no room for slip-ups, Clement admits every member of his squad will have a part to play as they try to catch a Celtic side nine points ahead at the top of the Premiership table following their draw at Tannadice on Sunday.

 

A narrow 1-0 win over Dundee on Saturday was Rangers’ fourth Premiership victory on the bounce, a run which has seen them nudge past Aberdeen into second spot.

 

Injuries have plagued the Ibrox side for much of what has been a disappointing campaign but, with players now approaching full fitness, Clement finally has a variety of viable options to call upon across the pitch.

It’s also been a busy period until now,’ he said. ‘Look at the period we had in October, November, December.

We will need to manage it now. I’m happy that Ross McCausland is getting back. He struggled for a long time with his foot, he feels better now. And I hope he can grow now as well to release [Vaclav] Cerny in moments.

 

‘We have other options also with Danilo, [Ianis] Hagi, [Cyriel] Dessers getting back, so there are more options than we had at the beginning of the season.

 

‘[Ridvan] Yilmaz can also do a job as a left winger, so it’s going be crucial to be able to make rotations with all the games coming up.’

 

Rangers head to Paisley on Thursday having won 23 of their previous 25 league encounters against Stephen Robinson’s men, with their last defeat to the Buddies coming 13 years ago this month.

 

However, Clement is taking nothing for granted, and is well aware his players will be in for a tough battle against a side full of confidence following their impressive 10-man win over Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday.