Kenny Miller reckons Malik Tillman will be fit to face Celtic on Sunday and his no-show against Livingston was Rangers making sure he was ready for the big one.
The American is an injury doubt with a hamstring problem, along with Ryan Jack and John Lundstram, for the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden this weekend. He was nowhere to be seen against the Lions and Michael Beale was non-committal when asked about the Bayern Munich loanee’s chances of facing the Hoops.
But Miller suspects the issue isn't quite as serious as is being made out, however and expects Tillman to be in Beale’s starting XI at the national stadium. He drew parallels to the shoulder injury that Kyogo suffered for Celtic, which was cleared up relatively quickly and thinks his former club are keeping Ange Postecoglou guessing with Tillman. He told Clyde 1 Super Scoreboard: “Lundstram and Jack in particular are experienced players,
”They have real experience of the fixture over the last few seasons. Two of the three players who were pivotal in Rangers making the Europa League final last year. They would be a big loss.
“Tillman is one of a number of players since Michael’s come in, who seems to have taken his game up. He seems to be enjoying football again; he's been scoring, he’s been assisting and has looked a proper footballer.
“It’s like what we saw in his first few games. You were thinking ‘this guy could light up the league, this guy could be a Player of the Year candidate,’ but he lost his way a wee bit.
“Now he's right back on his game. He’s got an end product with goals and assists and is a big old size of a lad as well. He would be a big loss.
“I think he’ll be fit. Is there a little bit of the Kyogo conversation that we had last week as well? Maybe there was no big issue (before Livingston) but they're thinking ‘you know what? Astro surface, Livingston?’ and they've got a raft of options to play the central midfield positions so do they just wrap him up in cotton wool? There might be a bit of that.”
If Tillman is cleared to play, then Miller thinks it’s bad news for Todd Cantwell. The January signing from Norwich City is still easing himself into life at Ibrox, and Miller doesn’t think Beale would play him and Tillman in the same team against Celtic if it’s an option.
He explained: “I think that would be the case. They are different players but I would say they play a similar role in the Rangers team. In this game, I can’t see both of them in the team against celtic on Sunday.”
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