Selection issues easing for Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be glad to have numbers back for Rangers’ trip to Ross County after struggling past Livingston on Wednesday night.

The Gers boss was without Ianis Hagi, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos due to injury, suspension and international duty respectively with Joe Aribo in the stand after coming back from the African Cup of Nations following Nigeria’s departure. Steve Davis, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun were also out.

Fit-again Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack, as well as recently returned Kemar Roofe started on the bench, while 18-year-old midfielder Alex Lowry made his first start after scoring as a substitute against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup last Friday night.

On a wet and wild night at Ibrox when the cinch Premiership leaders came up against a well-organised Livi side, van Bronckhorst called upon Arfield, Roofe and Jack in the second half.

Arfield, featuring for the first time since Boxing Day, scored the only goal 15 minutes from time to keep Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the top of the table but the Dutchman is pleased to have more choices for Dingwall.

Van Bronckhorst, who will have new Manchester United loan signing Amad Diallo available for Saturday, said: “It was very difficult circumstances to play in those conditions against a team who did very well, made it very compact and we couldn’t play the game we needed  against this opponent.

“It was difficult to control the ball, pass the ball in the wind but in the end we created enough chances to score goals but we only scored one which made us the winner, which is the most important thing.

“I am really happy that I could sub Scott Arfield because we know how important he is to the team.

“We put him in for the last 30 minutes,