JAMES TAVERNIER
A place in the Rangers Hall of Fame was the latest plaudit bestowed on Tavernier last weekend. Now he must claim the final one that he has yet to add to his personal roll of honour at Ibrox.
His efforts leading Rangers to the historic 55th Premiership title, guiding them to the Europa League final and then lifting the Scottish Cup have ensured Tavernier’s name will be enshrined amongst the greats of the club. To be truly held in the highest esteem, he needs more medals to his credit and victory on Sunday would see the captain complete the set.
This has not been Tavernier’s finest campaign. He would surely admit that himself and even his strongest backers – in a support who continue to be split on him – will acknowledge that his form has not hit the heights expected at certain times.
But he remains a hugely influential and pivotal figure in the team. The return of Beale and the process of reverting to the previous way of playing has helped Tavernier in recent times and there would be no better moment for him to lead by example in terms of his performances as well as his role as captain.
This will be a test of the defensive capabilities that are talked about so much but Tavernier has the ability to be a match winner on his day. He has suffered his fair share of ignominies against Celtic and inspiring Rangers at Hampden would be quite the way to celebrate his Hall of Fame accolade.
RYAN KENT
The contribution of Kent is often assessed in purely statistical terms and his numbers this season – three goals and eight assists from 24 Premiership appearances – will always be compared to those posted by the members of the Celtic attack. His output could, of course, be better but there is nobody else within Beale’s squad that can fulfil the role that Kent does and that is why he is such a potent part of the forward line.
The shift to a more central role since Beale succeeded Giovanni van Bronckhorst has given Kent a new lease of life. He has more freedom in the positions that he takes up and remains capable of those game-changing moments that supporters are right to expect from him.
Some would be content to see him walk away from Ibrox come the end of the campaign. If he does opt to leave, it will only be once he has gone that fans appreciate what a reliable and consistent performer Kent is.
The Old Firm occasions so often bring out the best in him. He benefits from having spaces in which to operate given that Celtic naturally have a more open approach than many of the teams that Rangers come up against domestically and he will be a threat that Ange Postecoglou will be eager to dampen as often as possible.
Kent is a big game player. His finest showings have come when the stakes are at their highest and the stage is set for one of Rangers’ main protagonists to rise to the occasion on Sunday.
ALFREDO MORELOS
This may well prove to be the last crack at the League Cup for Morelos. Indeed, it could well be his final shot at silverware at Ibrox depending on how Rangers fare in the Scottish Cup this term.
If Morelos was to leave Rangers with only two medals to his credit, it would be a case of a talent being unfulfilled. In many ways, he owes Rangers a performance at Hampden.
It was, of course, the Colombian that was at the centre of the drama in this fixture in 2019 as Celtic snatched the silverware from Steven Gerrard’s side. A succession of squandered chances and a costly penalty miss summed up a wretched afternoon and Morelos will surely be keen to make amends and finally be the man of the moment in the Old Firm fixture.
He no longer has the weight on his shoulders of a barren record in this fixture. A goal on Sunday will be his personal ambition, but his role for the team is more important and Beale needs the complete showing as he puts his trust in Morelos to start ahead of Antonio Colak.
The task of replacing Morelos come the summer, should he leave, will be a difficult one for Beale. It is a challenge that Rangers have struggled to adequately address for several years now after all.
The marriage between player and club has been mutually beneficial. It is up to the man himself how he wishes it to end.
