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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gavin Berry

3 burning Rangers questions for Celtic clash as Gio van Bronckhorst faces huge calls ahead of title showdown

In the eyes of many Rangers fans, it’s win or bust on Sunday.

Trailing leaders and rivals Celtic by three points and with an inferior goal difference, it could be the last chance in terms of the Scottish Premiership title race.

Lose at home to Ange Postecoglou’s side and it would be a huge ask to overturn the deficit with just six league games remaining.

But a victory would mean it’s all to play for and set up a mouthwatering run in between the Glasgow giants.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst patrolled the midfield in front of a near-full Ibrox Stadium during the weekend charity Legends game.

But the atmosphere will be nothing like Sunday when he stands in the dug-out for his first home Old Firm derby encounter.

The Dutchman needs a response after their capitulation at Parkhead in February as the Hoops routed them 3-0 in a game where the damage could have been worse.

With revenge the motivation for Rangers, Record Sport Online look at three big issues for the Light Blues as the game edges closer.

Ramsey to start?

Aaron Ramsey has yet to complete 90 minutes in a Rangers shirt but there seems to be a shift in opinion when it comes to the Welshman.

With his lack of game time since his deadline day loan move from Juventus, many fans were critical of the expensive move.

A couple of games against bottom side Dundee might not be the kind of fixture for which he has been signed.

But there has been enough in his two Dens Park displays - including his first goal for the club in the second of those matches, the league encounter - to show what he has to offer.

Ramsey’s quality has never been in doubt but there has been a question mark over his fitness with a history of injury issues.

However, the 31-year-old completed 90 minutes for Wales in their play off semi-final win over Austria and Sunday could be his big chance to live up to the hype over his Ibrox move.

Morelos contingency

Alfredo Morelos will be assessed on his return to Scotland from South America following the injury he picked up while on international duty with Colombia.

The 25-year-old, who has 12 Scottish Premiership goals this season, would be a huge miss if the problem keeps him out on Sunday.

Morelos missed the last Old Firm derby clash as he was away with Colombia and he was badly missed.

The way Celtic performed that night at Parkhead and the fact Rangers turned up then even if Morelos did feature there’s every chance it would have made little difference.

Alfredo Morelos is exactly the type of striker new Motherwell signing Juhani Ojala is looking forward to coming up against (Getty Images)

But the striker’s importance can’t be overstated and particularly in this fixture so his absence would be a real blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

What would be the alternative? Kemar Roofe led the line at east end Glasgow but didn’t make an impact, although nobody in light blue did.

Morelos offers something as a lone striker that no other player in the squad does and Roofe would likely be given a second chance ahead of Fashion Sakala if Morelos fails to make it.

Central defence

Filip Helander scored the only goal of the last Old Firm derby at Ibrox but shortly after that August showdown the Swede picked up an injury that kept him out for five months.

The former Bologna man has recently returned to the team but has looked a bit off the pace which could be in Van Bronckhorst’s mind when it comes to picking his side.

Helander came on for the final five minutes of extra time in Sweden’s World Cup play off semi final win over Czech Republic.

Connor Goldson will start but the question is who partners him and it will be a straight fight between Helander and Leon Balogun.

Helander would likely get the nod if fully fit and had a decent run of games under his belt but the temptation might be to go for Balogun given the Swede hasn’t quite looked up to speed.

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