Ibrox View: Clement must hook Rangers player at HT, we've seen this before

Mohamed Diomande has to be withdrawn by Philippe Clement if Rangers are to avoid a second-half slip-up against Kilmarnock on Wednesday – the like of which we have already seen this season.

Moving back from his usual advanced midfield role into the Bears’ double-pivot alongside Nico Raskin, Diomande has struggled to handle to rare counter-attacks the visitors have launched through the middle.

Clement’s side, featuring a new-look attack of Danilo, Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi in Diomande’s regular number 10 role, enter the break 1-0 up after James Tavernier steered home a superb Hagi cross.

However, with just a goal in it and the game finely poised, Connor Barron must come on to ensure Gers aren’t caught out by the likes of Kyle Vassell and Marley Watkins late on – like they were at Rugby Park.

Mohamed Diomande the change needed for Rangers v Kilmarnock

Although a head knock for Nico Raskin could well see the Belgian not re-enter the fray for the restart, he’s been much more dependable than Diomande defensively during Killie’s rare forages forward.

As has been the case so often this season, the early tempo set by the Gers for the opening 15 minutes has slowed significantly, and thus fresh legs in midfield could make the difference in the second half.

Barron has quickly become a fan favourite at Ibrox – so much so that him being taken off has been met with boos – and he’s much more adept than Diomande at breaking up opposition attacks at any level.

With Hagi proving his worth in the side once again and Igamane becoming undroppable thanks to his fluid link-up with the Romanian, Diomande faces a battle to become Clement’s number 10 again.

In a deeper midfield role though, he’s far less effective, and if Clement wants to his side to keep Killie under pressure for the whole second half, Barron would be much better-suited to seeing the game out.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues face a battle with European giants Barcelona to seal the signing of a promising midfielder.

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