Glasgow Rangers are set to play their first Premiership match in 77 days on Saturday afternoon, making the trip to Edinburgh to face Hearts in the season opener. Philippe Clement will be aiming for a perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign by securing all three points and returning to Glasgow with a win.
Clement has recently signed a new contract that extends his stay at the Light Blues until 2028, underscoring his commitment to the club’s rebuilding project. The upcoming weeks are critical, not only because the league season kicks off but also due to Rangers’ upcoming Champions League qualification matches against Dynamo Kyiv. Success in these rounds could mean a spot in Europe’s premier club competition.
With nine new summer signings, Clement has a range of options for his starting XI against the Jambos, though Dujon Sterling is the only confirmed absentee. Here’s a look at the likely lineup as the team aims to secure three points at Tynecastle.
1GK – Jack Butland
The Englishman had an outstanding debut season at Ibrox, missing only one game throughout the 2023/24 campaign. He kept 25 clean sheets in 58 appearances, seamlessly stepping into the role left by the retiring Allan McGregor.
The challenge now is whether he can build on this excellent debut year and improve further this season. He is certainly set to start against the Jambos.
2RB – James Tavernier
Tavernier’s future at Ibrox has been a topic of considerable speculation during the transfer window, with substantial interest in the right-back. However, in a recent interview, Tavernier expressed his full commitment to the club this season, aiming to guide the Gers to another league title.
In the 2023/24 season, the Englishman was the club’s top scorer, achieving an impressive 24 goals in 58 appearances across all competitions. The question now is whether he can replicate these numbers this season. A strong performance against Hearts could provide him with a significant boost of confidence.
3CB – John Souttar
After an injury-plagued debut season at Ibrox, Souttar emerged as a crucial first-team player last year, making 41 appearances. Clement clearly values him, as he and Connor Goldson formed the main centre-back partnership throughout the 2023/24 season.
With Goldson now gone, Souttar will need to adjust to a new partner, Robin Propper, who recently signed from FC Twente. The 30-year-old made 40 appearances for Twente last season and scored three goals. His arrival was swiftly announced, reflecting the urgency to bolster the defence.
However, Propper’s involvement this weekend is uncertain due to paperwork issues. If he does play, securing a clean sheet against the Tynecastle side would be an excellent start.
5LB – Ridvan Yilmaz
Similar to Souttar, Yilmaz faced a challenging debut season at Rangers. After a strong pre-season last summer, he managed 33 appearances for the club, displaying greater consistency before an injury hindered his progress towards the end of the season. With Borna Barisic departing at the end of last season, Yilmaz is now the primary choice at left-back for the new season. The question remains whether he can build on last year’s performance and continue to develop, or if the added pressure will be overwhelming.
6DM – Connor Barron
The youngster is set to make his first competitive appearance for the club after joining from Aberdeen on a free transfer. With considerable potential and a strong performance during pre-season, he is expected to be given a starting role against Hearts.
7CM – Mohamed Diomande
The Ivorian joined the club on loan in January and then signed permanently from FC Nordsjaelland this summer. The young talent scored twice in the latter part of last season and has performed well alongside Barron during pre-season. If he reaches his potential, Diomande could certainly yield a significant profit for the club.
8CM – Tom Lawrence
The Welshman netted twice against Union Berlin in the final pre-season friendly, demonstrating to Clement his potential importance for the upcoming season. After a challenging first year in Glasgow marred by injuries, Lawrence featured more frequently last season, with Clement making good use of his skills. He recorded six goal contributions in 32 appearances for the Light Blues during the 2023/24 season. An improvement on this form could be crucial in helping the club secure a league title this year.
9RW – Vaclav Cerny
The Czech winger has arrived on a season-long loan from Wolfsburg, providing Clement with a much-needed boost to his wide options. Last season, Cerny scored five goals in the Bundesliga despite starting only 12 matches. If fit, he is expected to slot directly into the starting XI against Hearts, offering a significant attacking threat from the right as Clement aims to penetrate their defense.
10LW – Oscar Cortes
The winger showed promise in his initial games after joining in January, but a season-ending injury in February halted his progress. With a strong pre-season, he is expected to start the campaign on the left wing and could pose a significant threat to the Hearts’ defense if he finds his rhythm during the match.
11ST – Cyriel Dessers
There has been significant discussion about Dessers’ future at Rangers over the summer, but it seems he might remain with the team for the upcoming season. The £4.5m striker netted 22 goals in his first season in Glasgow, although he did squander a considerable number of opportunities, with 27 missed in the Premiership alone.