Rangers boss Michael Beale basked in the glow after a 13th win out of 14 games and an undefeated start since taking the job at Ibrox on Saturday.
But the 3-0 victory over Livingston was quickly in the rearview mirror with focus shifting to Mount Florida and a mouthwatering Viaplay Cup Final against great rivals Celtic. The stakes are always high, of course, but the chance to land silverware so quickly would a be a real boon for the 42-year-old.
And there's a chance Beale will be heading into the Hampden blockbuster with several key men watching from the stands within the national stadium. The Ibrox side have battled injury woe with a shopping-list length of absentees a regular occurrence for much of the season. But who will be in and who will miss out? Record Sport runs the rule on the latest out of Ibrox as Rangers aim to win the League Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Let's start with John Lundstram. The 28-year-old was earmarked for a return by his manager on Friday, February 10 after suffering a heavy ankle knock on the previous Saturday against Ross County. And Beale's language certainly wasn't defeatist, however, he did not rule the former Sheffield United man in.
And it's a similar story with Malik Tillman – a new name to the injury list. The Bayern Munich loanee missed the win over David Martindale's side at the weekend and Beale admitted it was a hamstring complaint which had ruled one of his creative sparks out. Sport lovers watched Novak Djokovic win another Australian Open with a hamstring issue but they can be niggling injuries for footballers.
Ryan Jack hasn't had his injury issues to seek in recent years and now a calf complaint has him fighting to be fit for a game against Celtic. And Scott Arfield is another aiming to win his fitness battle. The veteran midfielder has an uncanny knack for big goals and climbed off the bench in the Scottish Cup semi-final last season to equalise against Celtic en route to a comeback win.
And what about anyone from the long-term absentee list making an appearance? The likes of Ridvan Yilmaz, John Souttar and Tom Lawrence are still working their way back. But recent returns of Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi are boosts for Beale who aims to secure a telling a signature result in a competition which evaded Steven Gerrard during his time at the helm.
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