The Philippe Clement era begins on Saturday afternoon for Rangers, who return from the international break with a Scottish Premiership clash against Hibernian at Ibrox.

While the Gers have already lost two of their opening four top-flight home games this season, Hibs have won just one of their first four league matches on the road.

Match preview

Four months after losing his job with Ligue 1 side Monaco, Philippe Clement has returned to management with Rangers less than two weeks after the dismissal of Michael Beale at Ibrox.

The 49-year-old, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Gers, is keen to create a winning mentality at Ibrox and intends to "win silverware as quickly as possible", but the Belgian has admitted that he is "not Harry Potter with the magic stick" and a return to the top of Scottish football may take time.

Clement's immediate task is to reel in bitter rivals and reigning champions Celtic in the race for the Premiership title, with Rangers currently sitting seven points behind the Hoops at the summit having already lost three of their opening eight top-flight games.

Under the tutelage of interim boss Steven Davis, Rangers suffered a disappointing 2-1 away defeat to Cypriot outfit Aris Limassol in the Europa League group stage, before bouncing back with an impressive 3-0 top-flight win against a high-flying St Mirren side in their final game before the international break, courtesy of a James Tavernier brace and a strike from Abdallah Sima.

Rangers will fancy their chances of making a winning start to life under Clement on Saturday as they have won five of their last six meetings with Hibs, winning each of their last three encounters by an aggregate score of 10-4.

Hibs, meanwhile, head to Ibrox boasting a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning and drawing three games each including a 2-2 draw with Edinburgh rivals Hearts in their final match before the international break.

The Cabbage were staring down the barrel of defeat at Tynecastle as an Alan Forrest opener and a Christian Doidge own goal put Hearts two goals ahead at half time. However, two goals in the space of just two second-half minutes from Elie Youan ultimately helped the visitors rescue a point and maintain their unbeaten start under new boss Nick Montgomery.

Indeed, Montgomery has accumulated six points across four league games since replacing Lee Johnson as Hibs manager, and he also steered his new club to a 4-2 triumph over St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals last month.

Hibs currently sit seventh in the Premiership table with nine points from their first eight games, just two points above the bottom two and six points adrift of Saturday's opponents Rangers in second place.

The Cabbage may struggle to extend their unbeaten run this weekend as they have lost each of their last eight league visits to Ibrox, conceding at least two goals on six of those occasions; not since a 2-1 win in February 2018 have Hibs claimed all three points away against Rangers.

Team News

Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo (knee) is not expected to return until the middle of November, while Jose Cifuentes and Tom Lawrence are also ruled out with respective knee and calf problems; 17-year-old Zak Lovelace pulled his hamstring on his first senior start against St Mirren and is another set to miss out.

However, Clement has confirmed that Todd Cantwell and Ryan Jack are available for selection, but the midfield duo may not be fit to play the full 90 minutes, while Danilo is in contention to feature on Saturday, even though he is "adapting" to wearing a face mask after fracturing his cheekbone.

Scott Wright is available to return from a one-match suspension and is in contention to start on either flank, while Sima, Kemar Roofe, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers will also battle for starts in attack.

As for Hibs, Harry McKirdy (heart issue) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) remain long-term absentees, and Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle) will be assessed ahead of kickoff, but goalkeeper Joe Wollacott has recovered from a thigh injury and is available for selection this weekend.

Fellow shot-stopper David Marshall, who was forced off with an injury in the draw with Hearts, is also fit to start between the sticks and is expected to get the nod ahead of Wollacott, while Paul Hanlon, Dylan Levitt and Adam Le Fondre will all be pushing to start after beginning on the substitutes' bench last time out.

Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Lundstram, Raskin, Cantwell; Lammers, Dessers, Sima

Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Miller, Fish, Hanlon, Obita; Youan, Jeggo, Newell, Boyle; Doidge, Le Fondre

We say: Rangers 2-1 Hibernian

Rangers can ill-afford to drop too many more points in their quest to close down Celtic at the summit, and they will hope that the appointment of Clement can act as a catalyst for a turnaround in fortunes.

Hibs cannot be taken lightly on Saturday considering their bright start made under Montgomery, but we believe that the Gers will come out on top in a closely-fought contest.


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