James Tavernier could make Celtic starting XI 'impact' as Rangers captain leads 4 players who make combined team

Gordon Strachan believes James Tavernier could start for Celtic - and there are four or five others in blue who are up to the Angeball mark.

It's a big week of build-up in Glasgow as both sides of the divide aim to take their place in the Scottish Cup final. Rangers will hope to repeat last year's semi-final by winning the day but Ange Postecoglou's side will be desperate to clinch another victory over their rivals and push themselves closer to a treble.

Former Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan has been running the rule over his former side's rivals and is full of praise for captain Tavernier, who this season entered the Rangers Hall of Fame. And he reckons the right-back is Player of the Year and could fit into Postecoglou's plans. Quizzed on which Ibrox players would make it in the Celtic starting XI, Strachan told Casinosite.nl : “If James Tavernier wasn’t playing for Rangers, they’d probably say he’s not a bad player and he could get in there. I think John Lundstram is a good player. I think Malik Tillman could be a good player, he’s got the potential.

"Ryan Kent is a good player but I don’t know if he’d suit the Celtic team at the moment because of the way they play with wide players who actually play wide. I think there’s four or five that would make an impact."

Asked who he would choose for Scotland's POTY, Strachan added: "You can’t take Tavernier out of the equation. The goals he’s scored have been quite phenomenal.

"From Celtic there could be six or seven in there, there really could. And then you’ve got Kevin van Veen at Motherwell who’s having a terrific season.

"McGregor should be in there. Hatate, excellent. Jota, excellent. Kyogo with 29 goals and his work rate closing down defenders. Carter-Vickers as well.