Ally McCoist reckons Connor Goldson can still force his way back into the Rangers XI – but NOT at the expense of Leon Balogun.
Veteran Goldson, 31, was dramatically dropped for today’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts after a shaky couple of months. The long-serving defender has been an ever-present in the Gers backline since joining in 2018 but his place is now at risk under Philippe Clement.
Goldson has been criticised for his performances in recent games with Celtic, Ross County and Dundee and while Clement claimed he was being “rested” at Hampden, McCoist insists he’s no longer the first-choice centre-back at Ibrox. Instead, he reckons Nigerian stopper Balogun will become Clement’s main man after such an assured performance against the Jambos.
Looking ahead to Rangerrs’ Treble run-in, McCoist said: “The one thing we’ve come out with now is that Butland, Balogun and Dessers will play the next game. I don’t think you can leave Balogun out of now. I think Balogun, on that performance today, is his [Clement’s] number one centre-back. Goldson might get back in, but it could be for Souttar.”
Former Gers defender Alan Hutton added: “I was just speaking about it just as the game finished. I was saying if that’s me, and I’ve come in for a semi-final and played like that, and it comes to the next game and you’re not playing… you’re raging. You’re chapping the manager’s door. But this is what you want going into the final stages of the season; big performances from big players giving him a headache.”
