Rangers can repeat Celtic antics of 2022 to turbo charge title bid

Cast your mind back to the winter of 2021, Rangers were flying at the top of the league and had qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League whilst Celtic were struggling for results and with injuries.

Covid-19 was still lingering and despite no other country in Europe making any changes to their schedule, the SPFL decided to bring the winter break forward, conveniently, right before a crucial Old Firm derby.

On the other side of the break, Rangers saw a congested fixture list contribute to their own injury problems as Celtic added fresh legs and more quality, a new look team swept aside Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men, and the rest is history.

How Rangers can play Celtic at their own game
Philippe Clement and his squad now has the chance to do something similar.

Beset by injuries, the Gers boss is working miracles to get results out of a team that is seeing a new academy player added to the bench every week.

The winter break might not be getting brought forward but the two rearranged games against Ross County and Hibernian respectively means that there could be new faces and more depth available by the time they come around.

Tom Lawrence, Danilo, Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ben Davies, Connor Goldson and Kemar Roofe is some injury list but most of these players should be back in the new year.

Not having to resort to playing Leon King and Dujon Sterling as a midfield pairing will only increase our chances of success, not that the young duo have put a foot wrong so far that is.

In a tight title race, Rangers need to make a statement in January similar to the one that Celtic made in 2022 – signing a player like Fabio Silva is a start.

The players they signed proved to be the difference that season as Rangers ran out of legs and ideas, especially in the final third.

Get the window right and Rangers fans could be in for a treat, get it wrong, and we could be in for a repeat.

Losing a league title when it is in your own hands is always a bitter pill to swallow.