Rangers vs Kilmarnock - Who should start, and who’s fit?

Rangers travel to Ayrshire for this evening’s entertainment, as Kilmarnock host our beloved charges in the first game of the weekend’s SPFL action.

Our fellow title-challengers Celtic and Aberdeen (pause for laughter) are in action over the weekend, so as things are hotting up we’ll look to increase the pressure and extend our lead at the top of the table.

The question, then, invariable turns to selection. Joe Garner is ready for action and Mark Warburton has claimed that he will be involved, but whether that’s from the bench or from the start, we’re not sure. Josh Windass is the closest of our injured players back to full fitness, although the manager also claimed he won’t start. Jason Holt, Matt Crooks and Martyn Waghorn are all unavailable too.

The first question, then, is in defence. Danny Wilson is the most in-form centre-back and should surely start, and his partner is the only player in question. Rob Kiernan has been pretty terrible recently, and we’d be inclined to give Clint Hill a shot next to him, although Warburton seems determined to persist with the same partnership as last season.

In midfield, even Warburton should see by that Joey Barton, Andy Halliday and Jordan Rossiter cannot function as a three. Barton may not have set the world alight yet, but he’s hardly been terrible, and has been very good at winning the ball back when let off the leash, so we’d agree with expectation here and see Halliday move out for Harry Forrester. On the flanks, we’d go for the obvious choice of Barrie McKay and MIchael O’Halloran, although our manager seems to mistrust the latter to start, so we suspect we may well persist with the same midfield three unless Niko Kranjcar is fit enough to start.

Finally, up front. Yes, we all know this one. Everybody wants it to be Joe Garner and it’ll be Kenny Miller. Alright then, what does that give us?

GTBFO preferred team: Foderingham; Tavernier, Hill, Wilson, Wallace; Barton, Rossiter; O’Halloran, Forrester, McKay; Garner.

GTBFO predicted team: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace; Barton, Rossiter, Halliday; Forrester, Miller, McKay.

What team would you pick? Let us know your choices in the comments.