Aribo set for Hamilton clash as coach laments injury woes

Coach of Scottish Premier League side Hamilton, Brian Rice is a worried man ahead of the visit of Rangers to the Fountain of Youth Stadium on Sunday. 

Super Eagles ace Joe Aribo who has been impressive for both club and country recently, is set to marshal out the midfield for Rangers in a clash the visitors have been tipped to win.

Coach Rice is having  a depleted side no thanks to both injury and suspensions and the situation is giving him migraine especially with Aribo’s pace becoming a source of worry for Ranges opponents

Sam Stubbs and Scott Martin are both suspended for the showdown with Steven Gerrard’s team while Blair Alston, Ciaran McKenna, Ryan Fulton (all knee) and Aaron McGowan (hamstring) are all definitely missing too.

Brian Easton (thigh) and Marios Ogkmpoe (ankle) are also doubts, meaning Rice may be forced to hand out-of-favour club captain Darian Mackinnon his first start since August.

Unlike lamenting Rice, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has the luxury of a near fully-fit squad to choose from.

Jordan Jones has returned to full training after an 11-week absence resulting from the knee injury he picked up in September’s Old Firm defeat, although he is still 10-days away from being ready for first-team action.

Read AlsoRangers 3-0 Hearts: Aribo, Ojo stars in huge win

Aribo already back in the fold after international duty with Super Eagles against Lesotho is good to go. Rangers have recorded five victories in five matches both home and away, the last being 2-0 away win over Livingston.

Hamilton provisional squad: Fon Williams, Fjortoft, Hamilton, Hunt, McMann, Want, Gogic, Hughes, MacKinnon, Beck, Smith, Cunningham, Oakley, Miller, Moyo, Davies, Gourlay.

Rangers provisional squad: McGregor, Flanagan, Tavernier, Helander, Halliday, Barisic, Edmundson, Goldson, Katic, Davis, Jack, Aribo, Kamara, King, Arfield, Barker, Kent, Ojo, Defoe, Morelos, Stewart, Murphy, Foderingham.