By Alan Hutton

9th Mar, 2022 | 12:00pm

Rangers TV pundit: Scott Arfield 'nailed on' to start v Red Star as 'in-form' star set for axe

Alan Hutton has suggested Scott Arfield is “nailed on” to return to the Rangers starting XI against Red Star Belgrade.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender and Rangers TV pundit tipped Giovanni van Bronckhorst to axe Fashion Sakala for the 33-year-old.

As quoted by the Herald on Saturday (5 March), Van Bronckhorst revealed he was simply giving Arfield and John Lundstram a rest by starting them on the bench against Aberdeen.

The Canada international came on just before the hour mark against the Dons, while Lundstram played the last 12 minutes.

Hutton insisted Arfield would almost certainly start on Thursday, while he suggested Glen Kamara could be dropped in midfield.

Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think Arfield comes back in for Sakala, I think that would be nailed on.

“Sakala for me, I’m watching him and you just want him to relax on the ball. Everything he tries to do, he tries to just smash the ball.

“He gets into really good areas, he picks up the ball well, he runs at people. Just that final pass, that final decision can sometimes let him down.

“Arfield, he’s one of the main men for me and Van Bronckhorst, especially on European nights.

“Ryan Jack plays in that two sitting and then it’s down to who does the manager fancy on the night. Is it going to be Kamara, who’s back in form, or Lundstram, who’s been playing really well?”

Lundstram and Arfield both started in Rangers’ last European game, the 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund at Ibrox.

The latter of the pair has missed just three games for the Gers since Van Bronckhorst’s arrival.

In other news, pundit claims Van Bronckhorst “knows” Rangers star unhappy after dressing room reveal.