Dundee Vs Rangers preview: A Propper challenge

Afternoon everyone, I can only apologise for the lateness of this post. The truth is, I totally forgot we were playing until now, and my day was honestly a lot happier without Rangers looming on the horizon.

The comedown caused by Sunday's result has been pretty terrible. It's left the mood amongst supporters seriously angry. We are all waiting for Patrick Stewart to talk about the January business. I've only seen a few transfer links which I will address shortly. But things have been all quiet on the Rangers front.

Well, quiet on the transfer in front. We've sent Robbie Fraser and Cole McKinnon on loan to Livingston and Ayr United respectively. Fraser has looked capable whenever he's played for the first team so I expect him to do well. McKinnon has been a mixed bag, but he's very young so that doesn't really mean much, not every youth player can be Barry Ferguson. I wish them both well.

More youngsters are expected to depart on loan. Alex Lowry and Adam Devine have been put in the shop window. They're aren't any moves materialising for Lowry at the moment. But Adam Devine has been on Birmingham City's radar. That would make him the third transfer between the clubs season after Ben Davies and Scott Wright making the jump to St Andrews. Clearly Tom Brady never misses a Rangers game, although I'm not sure of his eye for talent if he watched us and came to the conclusion that he needed to sign those two.

One Rangers player certainly not leaving on loan is Bailey Rice. Clement spoke about how after tonight's game he will be a part of the first team dressing room permanently. That's a good step in his development and hopefully leads to more minutes for a promising young player whose been on the fringes of the first team for a while now. If he's targeting a position in the team, becoming an understudy to Nico Raskin would surely be his best move, we lack a natural 6 to replace him when he's unavailable (like tonight).

The main links for incoming transfers have been the return of two former players. The Turkish press linked Ryan Kent with an Ibrox return. Those rumours have been quashed recently but I think it's important to say that given the way he downed tools in his final season, we should never be bringing him back. The lack of minutes for him since he's left would be a big concern too, can hardly let him build himself up to full sharpness given our dire needs currently.

Given our lack of options at the back, the next player linked is less of a surprise. Nikola Katic, the Bosnian international now of FC Zurich. He's never been shy about his affection for Rangers and his time here. There's no doubt he'd be willing to come back. But I watched him play for Zurich against Arsenal a few years ago and he looked very much the same player that left. That is, extremely competitive in the air and on the ground, not great with the ball at his feet and lots of time to think about it. Given our struggles this season have been in games with lots of possession, I don't think adding another net negative on the ball would be a good idea. Especially given he's under contract at FC Zurich and would cost a decent chunk of cash.

He will always be a fan favourite for the way he played and his winner at Celtic Park. But I think it's best he's remembered as a cult hero, no need to spoil that legacy.

I was hoping we'd have seen a resumption of the Lyall Cameron links. He's really impressed me and is available on a free at the end of the season. But that may be a Connor Barron situation with us tied up in what we can announce just now, that's the way I'm justifying it anyway.

I saw some links to Grant Hanley but I don't think I can even comprehend that as a signing. Bizarrely the 33-year-old has played more games for Scotland than Norwich this season. And he's struggled with injuries the last few seasons, so I don't think he fits the mould to reinforce our backline which is already crippled with injuries.

There was some talk of Jonny Evans being available given Ruben Amorim's arrival as Manchester United manager. The Northern Irishman is 37 and has vast experience at the top level. When he played for Manchester United last season, I thought he looked excellent given the shambles around him. Although he's not exactly the age profile of a long term signing, I'd jump at the chance of adding his presence to the backline till the end of the season.

I've managed to avoid discussing tonight's game for as long as possible. But I have to address it. We travel to Dens Park missing 80% of our backline, our best player this season in Raskin and probably something else, the right studs for our boots maybe.

Our limp 0-0 draw here last season signalled the end of the title charge. I can definitely foresee a similar result with our inconsistency in front of goal away from home and lack of available bodies.

This is a big game for Robin Propper, as the last senior centre back standing he has to really stand up and be counted tonight.

One man who will be trying to single-handedly change that will be Hamza Igamane. The Moroccan will hopefully play with the same intensity as Sunday, and if we can just get the ball to him and pray, we might even win.

I'd like to see a reaction from the team, and a clean sheet should really be the bare minimum. But no one knows which side will turn up tonight, defensively or offensively.