Rangers star John Souttar handed first start for over EIGHT MONTHS against Celtic as key Gers man misses out on Old Firm

MICHAEL BEALE has thrown John Souttar into the Rangers starting XI for the Old Firm derby for his first start in over EIGHT months – with Connor Goldson OUT of the rivalry showdown.

The Scotland defender picked up an injury against Livingston on the opening day of the season and has only recently returned to action.

Souttar headlines the team news at Parkhead today as he takes the place of veteran defender Goldson, who misses out altogether.

It’s being reported that Goldson suffered a hip injury in training this week.

Beale said: “Right at the end of training yesterday he had a problem with his hip flexor.”

The Gers gaffer has also opted to include Todd Cantwell, Malik Tillman and Nico Raskin and leave out the speedy Fashion Sakala.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has welcomed back Aaron Mooy.

Postecoglou revealed yesterday that Reo Hatate wouldn’t recover in time for the Glasgow clash, while Greg Taylor does make a return after limping off against Ross County last week.

The Hoops manager has also ignored calls from some fans to give Oh Hyeon-gyu the nod over Kyogo Furuhashi.

In terms of the formations, it looks as though both teams will be sticking to their usual 4-2-3-1 systems.

Ryan Jack and Raskin will be the deep-lying men for Rangers, with the Scot asked to do most of the dirty work and the young Belgian given a bit more freedom to go and link up with those ahead of him.

Some Gers-minded pundits and fans were hoping to see a change up top, with Sakala’s pace given a chance through the middle or perhaps something more out-of-the-box, like Cantwell or Tillman operating as a false nine in the same way Joe Aribo did under Beale and Steven Gerrard on occasion.

Instead it looks like Ryan Kent in his usual left wing position with Tillman as the ten and Cantwell on the right wing.

Alfredo Morelos has had his critics but Beale has opted to go with the Colombian as his main striker, leaving Antonio Colak on the bench.

With no Goldson on the bench, Rangers actually have no more centre-backs in the matchday squad so if either Ben Davies or Souttar suffered injury, the only option is asking midfielder John Lundstram to step in as a makeshift defender.

Ianis Hagi returns to the matchday squad as well and he could provide a spark in the final third if required.

For Celtic, youngster Rocco Vata has been named on the bench again but Postecoglou can also call on the quality of the likes of David Turnbull and Tomoki Iwata if his midfielders tire.

Celtic XI: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Mooy, O’Riley; Jota, Maeda, Kyogo.

Bain, Haksabanovic, Turnbull, Kobayashi, Oh, Iwata, Bernabei, Welsh, Vata.

Rangers XI: McGregor; Tavernier, Davies, Souttar, Barisic; Jack, Raskin, Cantwell; Tillman, Kent, Morelos.

Subs: McLaughlin, Yilmaz, Lundstram, Hagi, Colak, Kamara, Wright, Sakala, Arfield.

More to follow.