View: Bizarre Clement decision on exit-linked man emerges as pair axed from Rangers XI vs Motherwell

Philippe Clement’s confirmed Rangers XI for the first game at Hampden Park against Motherwell has been announced with new signings Robin Propper and Vaclav Cerny finally starting.

The Belgian is looking for his first win of the season on 10 August and has made a pair of changes from the midweek draw in Europe, axing Leon Balogun and Ross McCausland.

But Scott Wright has somehow not paid the price for another ineffective performance in Poland as he starts for the third game running.

He was substituted at half-time against Dynamo Kyiv and replaced by left-back Jefte who put in an encouraging showing, but the Brazilian is back on the bench and hasn’t been joined by the Scottish winger.

Robin Propper and Vaclav Cerny start for Rangers

Jefte, McCausland and Rabbi Matondo must be wondering what the manager sees in his preferred choice that none of them are apparently showing.

Wright has been linked with an exit from Ibrox again this summer amid interest from England and abroad [Darren Witcoop, 23 July].

It is believed there are FFP issues that are hampering moves to Sheffield Wednesday or Derby County [TEAMtalk, 23 July], but any half-decent offer would logically be considered for a player who has largely been peripheral at Ibrox, until now.

There has been much consternation at the fact that only Connor Barron has managed to start from the new signings against Hearts and Dynamo Kyiv, so Propper and Cerny’s involvement is a positive.

Clement had claimed the latter wasn’t ready to start in his press conference ahead of the game, but fans would likely have expected him to replace Wright if he was to crack the line up, while Jefte can surely feel hard done by not to have kept his place after the midweek match.

Many would have expected Wright to be on the way out with the likes of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell but he seems to have been elevated in status by the manager, without much justification.

A stand-out performance is not beyond him but they are far too infrequent, and if he does depart before the deadline it would be even more confusing why he keeps getting the nod at present.

Having been withdrawn soon after the hour at Tynecastle and then at the break in Europe he must improve against Stuart Kettlewell’s side or this is surely his last chance.

In other Rangers news, Ryan Jack has reacted to the Light Blues transfer “backlash” this summer.

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