Gassama To Return To The Starting XI? | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Hearts

Gassama To Return To The Starting XI? | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Hearts After a commanding 4-0 home win against St Johnstone, Rangers will travel to Edinburgh to clash heads with Hearts on Wednesday night. Their previous outing finished all square at Dens Park, and the Glasgow giants, reignited under ex-Jambos boss Derek McInnes, must aim for all three points to keep pace with Celtic, who remain four points clear at the top of the league standings despite a 1-0 Parkhead defeat over a month ago. McInnes went on a dream journey with Hearts last season until they suffered heartbreak against the Hoops in the showdown. He defeated Rangers three times in four meetings during the previous campaign, thus earning the runners-up spot ahead of his current employers. The Scotsman returns to Tynecastle for the first time since leaving them in June for Ibrox, and it remains to be seen how the crowd reacts when he appears in the dugout. Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Hearts Defence Ivor Pandur had a comfortable afternoon when they defeated the Saints last weekend, but should expect a busy trip against the flair and finesse of Claudio Braga, James Wilson and the ex-Gers academy graduate Josh McPake. GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Ryan Naderi of Rangers challenges for a header during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox Stadium on February 15, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images) Rangers’ defensive stability has left Tuur Rommens, Ben Godfrey and Kosta Nedeljkovic waiting for opportunities as second-half substitutes. Dujon Sterling and James Penrice have cemented their full-back roles. Manny Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya are also going strong, demonstrating composure and discipline in the heart of the backline. Midfield The Light Blues have Nicolas Raskin and Dan Neil, who are irreplaceable for their technicality, vision and playmaking traits as the ‘double pivot’. Ross McCrorie and Cammy Devlin are sidelined with hamstring injuries; however, Vanja Dragojevic and Tochi Chukwuani’s availability offers ample depth and quality in the centre of the pitch. Versatile Kim Min-Su could switch to the right, replacing Badredine Bouanani amid Daisuke Yokota’s injury. Djeidi Gassama featured from the bench on Saturday, but might return to the starting XI and reclaim the left-wing spot. High-flying Ryan Naderi, operating as a ‘number 10’, has netted seven times and laid on four more in 14 appearances across competitions. The Czech international must offer his creative spark, with Bouanani and Findlay Curtis potentially getting involved as ‘super subs’. Attack With four goals in 7 outings, deadline-day recruit Kevin Kelsy has shown his expertise while spearheading the attack. Bojan Miovski would continue as his understudy up top, given ex-Hearts hitman Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti’s long injury layoffs.