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Derek McInnes facing big Rangers question after Tayside tinkering ahead of St Johnstone – predicted XI

The alterations against Dundee last weekend didn't work and Ibrox boss could return to winning formula against Simo Valakari's men

Derek McInnes at full-time

Derek McInnes at full-time(Image: Kirk O'Rourke/Rangers FC/Shutterstock)

Derek McInnes faced a bit of flak from a section of the Rangers support for tinkering with his team at Dundee.

And after a disappointing draw on Tayside last weekend, it begs the question whether the Ibrox gaffer will change his line-up again for the visit of St Johnstone on Saturday.

McInnes likes a settled starting 11 but he tweaked his formation at Dens Park - dropping striker Kevin Kelsy to the bench and introducing on-loan Stuttgart winger Badredine Bouanani.

That meant Minsu Kim adopting a central role, playing just off Ryan Naderi up front.

Initially, it didn’t work as Rangers struggled against Steven Pressley’s men and went 1-0 down.

But Algerian wide man Bouanani soon justified his selection with a stunning equaliser before half-time.

And in the second 45, Kim and Bouanani tormented the Dark Blues’ defence before Nico Raskin put Gers in front.

Only a huge mistake by skipper Dan Neil cost McInnes’ men three points when he was robbed by Callum Jones who levelled.

The changes the manager made were understandable away from home against an in-form Dundee side.

But on Saturday against St Johnstone at Ibrox, Rangers will be expected to dominate for 90 minutes and comfortably take care of the Premiership’s newly-promoted side.

So the likelihood is that McInnes will revert back to his 4-4-2 system that beat Celtic twice and put three past Kilmarnock in Govan.

Rangers' Kevin Kelsy celebrates after scoring

Expect Kelsy to come back in and Bouanani to keep his place on the right flank.

But that means either Kim or Djeidi Gassama will have to be sacrificed and put on the bench.

Elsewhere, there shouldn’t be too many alterations.

But one worth watching out for is at centre-back. Emmanuel Fernandez was caught out of position for both Dundee goals last week.

And on Tuesday, McInnes gave a run-out to ex-England international Ben Godfrey in a bounce game, along with several other fringe men.

Godfrey is pushing for a start at some point and this game might be the perfect time to give Fernandez a rest.

Here is how Record Sport reckons Rangers will line-up:

4-4-2: Pandur - Sterling, Godfrey, Makhanya, Penrice - Bouanani, Neil, Raskin, Kim - Naderi, Kelsy.

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