Ibrox View: Rangers' record-breaker hands selection dilemma to Rohl ahead of Celtic clash

Youssef Chermiti could be the defining factor behind whether or not Rangers win silverware this season.

Rangers face Celtic for the second week running at Ibrox on Sunday as they look to progress in the Scottish Cup.

When taking into account the blow they suffered in regard to their title hopes last time out, the Gers are expected to make some changes to face Martin O’Neill’s side, while also ensuring that they maintain the competitive balance in the squad to win the game.

One of the key decisions that Danny Rohl will have to make on Sunday is regarding Chermiti, who scored twice against the Bhoys last weekend.

Will Danny Rohl start Youssef Chermiti vs Celtic?

Perhaps this says more about the lack of goals elsewhere in the team as opposed to his own quality, but Chermiti is Rangers’ top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season.

The former Everton man has nine goals for the Light Blues, all of them in the league, but what will spark even more intrigue is the fact that eight of them have arrived in encounters against either Celtic or Hearts.

Taking that into account, it seems like a no-brainer for Rohl to utilise him from the start on Sunday and make the most of the confidence he has gained from scoring five times against Celtic this season, the most any Rangers star has managed in a single season against their rivals.

However, to revert back to the original point of him being the Gers’ top scorer, Rohl may also be deliberating over whether he will be best used in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers are six points behind Hearts in the league, having now played the same number of games, and if that gap is to be reduced, Rohl needs to have his best XI available consistently.

There’s a week’s break between Sunday’s Scottish Cup encounter and Rangers’ league clash with St. Mirren, meaning there is some flexibility to be had.

But nonetheless, any decision taken over Chermiti this weekend will be a risk in its own way.

Chermiti absence could hand lifeline to Djeidi Gassama

If Rohl were to make the decision to drop Chermiti for this game, the question would be who would replace him?

Bojan Miovski would be the like-for-like replacement, but Rangers could utilise a different formation given the disappointment they had against Celtic last time out.

The former Aberdeen forward has hardly moved mountains since joining the Light Blues, and if Chermiti were to miss the game, Rohl could instead turn to Djeidi Gassama.

Gassama has started just two of the last five in all competitions for the Gers, and could provide the extra energy in transition needed to secure victory.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.