Gio van Bronckhorst in Rangers rotation dilemma as he faces Celtic and Europa League juggling act

Gio van Bronckhorst has hinted he may have to send out a patchwork line-up at Parkhead but insisted that doesn’t mean Rangers’ Europa League final hopefuls have given up on retaining their Premiership crown.

Gers will cross Glasgow for the final Old Firm showdown of the season on Sunday lunchtime but the Ibrox gaffer admits he may have to keep some of his top stars in reserve ahead of next week’s do-or-die second leg showdown with RB Leipzig.

The Light Blues trail the Germans by a single goal after Angelino’s late strike saw the Bundesliga big guns claim a slender advantage.

But Rangers are also lagging behind in the title race and a win for Celtic would put them nine points clear with just nine to play for.

However, the Hoops’ vastly superior goal difference means Ange Postecoglou’s team can essentially rip the title away from Govan with a victory.

Sending out a second-string team for a derby clash of such huge importance would usually be unthinkable for the Ibrox legions.

Van Bronckhorst, however, insists he has no other option if he’s to avoid the risk of losing further key men having already been forced to face Leipzig without Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Aaron Ramsey and Ianis Hagi.

The Rangers boss though is clear that prioritising the Euro clash is not a sign he will accept second best against Celtic as he insisted this month’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over their bitter rivals has renewed Ibrox confidence levels.

“We have to win this game,” he declared. “It’s a totally different approach to what we had in Leipzig. Thursday, the approach was to get a good result to take back to Ibrox.

“On Sunday and next week, we have to win our games so it’s going to be a different approach.

“In that way, we have to go