Kris Boyd believes Michael Beale could bench both Alfredo Morelos and Antonio Colak for Saturday’s do-or-die Old Firm crunch - and play Malik Tillman as a false nine instead.
And while Barry disagrees with his former teammate on who should lead the line, he echoed the call for both Morelos and Colak to be benched. Rangers legend Boyd reckons neither established striker has had the impact Beale would have expected in his time in charge and particularly against their arch rivals. Morelos started the 2-2 league draw and 2-1 League Cup Final defeat but was hooked in both while Colak was given the nod for the 4-0 thrashing on their last visit to Parkhead before Beale’s arrival.
Tillman has hit three goals in his last two appearances including a double in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Dundee United to take his tally for the season to 12. And just like the 1-1 draw in the east end of Glasgow a year ago, Boyd has a hunch Rangers might opt to go with a false nine to ruffle up Celtic.
Boyd said on Sky Sports: “When you look back to last season and the last time Rangers got a positive result at Celtic Park was that 1-1 draw and Joe Aribo was the false nine. Is that something that might come into Michael Beale’s thoughts? There’s an argument for it. I don’t think Alfredo Morelos or Antonio Colak have had the impact that Michael will have been wanting especially in this fixture."
Boyd reckons US international Tillman is the best bet to play the free-roaming striker role should Beale be tempted and he expects Fashion Sakala to be re-introduced too after sitting out the win over Dundee United.
He added: “Tillman obviously with two goals at the weekend as well, Sakala didn’t play after coming back off international duty and you’d expect him to come back in, so there are options there.
“It might just be something he might look at. Tillman has shown he could potentially play in that higher area.”
Meanwhile Ferguson said on Go Radio that Sakala has made the case for himself to give them "something different" up front. He said: "Morelos is strong at holding it in. Colak isn't the type of player who can hold it up, he's more of a penalty box striker.
"So I think something different, like Sakala through the middle, just to spin in behind. You could put balls in and he'll go and chase it."
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