Scottish Cup final: Philippe Clement may ‘take risks’ with Rangers players

Rangers manager Philippe Clement is prepared to “take some risks with players” who may not be 100% fit for Saturday’s Scottish Cup final with Celtic – but does not “want to say too much” about who is available.

Defenders Leon Balogun, John Souttar, Borna Barisic and Connor Goldson were among seven players to miss Rangers’ final game of the league season against Hearts last weekend, while forward Abdallah Sima returned from injury.

Clement was more forthcoming about what is required from his team to complete a cup double, urging them to “go hard with all the energy they have left”, and said the occasion is “always more than just a trophy between these two clubs in this country”.

He wants his players to be “switched on all the time” and said: “There’s a lot of energy in the team now to end the season in a good way.

“This is a final game, a decisive game. Maybe we need to take some risks with players that we normally don’t do.

“The last six, eight weeks, it’s been difficult with all the players falling out, coming back from injury but missing rhythm, others falling out.

“It’s now about this one moment, about 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 120 minutes and penalties, to give everything with the whole squad, with everybody who is available.

“I think a few guys even want to come on the pitch with crutches. I cannot allow that, of course, but we’re going to go hard with the team with every energy that is available in the building.”