da dobrowin： With The Sun reporting that Ryan Jack has been sent home from international duty, it could lead the way for Glen Kamara to play a more prominent role in the Rangers midfield. The Ibrox club face Livingston at home this weekend and with Steven Davis involved with Northern Ireland, Kamara could start in the Rangers engine room.
Kamara the obvious choice?
da pinup bet： Gerrard has already shown he is keen to rotate his midfield but Ryan Jack, so far, has played the most minutes – 940 in total. Davis has been rested, when possible, to ensure his availability for key matches and it has been Kamara that, so far, has been his replacement. Gerrard only playing Davis, Jack and Kamara together once this season – in the 2-0 defeat to Celtic, Rangers only defeat of the season.
Davis is deployed as the deepest midfielder, being available to receive the ball off the centre-halves and play passes from deep. Jack although he is seen as more of a defensive midfielder is transitioning into a more traditional number eight, playing a box-to-box role. Gerrard will want Kamara to replicate Jack’s work rate if he is to replace him in this role.
Change to the attack
Gerrard now has another option at his disposal though. The £7m signing of Ryan Kent means that Scott Arfield can be deployed in a deeper role if it is required. This could benefit Rangers in the long run as his goal scoring return would suggest he is a decent finisher, albeit he has started slowly this term with two goals and one assist in ten games.
Rangers fans may now see Gerrard go with Davis-Kamara-Aribo in key games and Kamara-Aribo-Arfield in games that Rangers will dominate. Kamara playing the deepest midfield role. This will give Gerrard the chance to rest Davis and play both Sheyi Ojo and Ryan Kent. Rangers have rarely played with two wingers or inside-forwards this term preferring to have one narrow forward and one slightly wider in an asymmetrical pattern. The flair and goal threat of Ojo (four goals and three assists in ten games) and Kent could persuade Gerrard otherwise.
Enter the King
The final option that Gerrard has is to bring in Andy King, the on-loan Leicester player has only just arrived and has had playing time restricted so far. King would bring a greater goal threat than both Jack and Kamara and an altogether different dynamic to the side. He is experienced and a proven winner. Leicester’s all time leading goalscoring midfielder and capped international no less. Qualities that may see him edge Kamara and negate the absence of Davis or Arfield from midfield.
With Rangers looking to regain momentum after the recent Old Firm loss, replacing Ryan Jack will be a key decision over the coming games for Steven Gerrard’s men. Who Gerrard picks will demonstrate how attacking he wants his men to be, such is Jack’s importance to the team. Kamara is the safe choice and given Gerrard’s recent pragmatism in the Old Firm game, it’s the most likely decision he’ll make.