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Russell Martin plans squad shake-up for Middlesbrough match

Rangers manager Russell Martin reveals extensive squad rotation ahead of Saturday's friendly.

July 25, 2025 at 06:00 PM

Russell Martin teases Rangers squad shake-up vs Middlesbrough

Rangers head coach Russell Martin is preparing for squad adjustments ahead of the game against Middlesbrough.

Russell Martin plans significant squad changes for Middlesbrough match

Rangers manager Russell Martin announced plans for substantial changes to his squad when they face Middlesbrough on Saturday. He aims to give more game time to players who have had limited involvement during the pre-season. While some players who participated in the recent match against Panathinaikos will continue to feature, Martin emphasized that this friendly will provide essential minutes for squad members still gaining fitness. Looking ahead to the second leg of the Champions League qualifier next week, he expressed excitement about testing the entire team’s capabilities against quality opposition.

Key Takeaways

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Russell Martin is set to rotate his Rangers squad against Middlesbrough.

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Focus on giving game time to less active squad members is crucial.

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Maintaining team chemistry while rotating players could be challenging.

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Martin emphasizes the importance of quality opposition for readiness.

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Pre-season matches serve as a platform to assess squad depth and readiness.

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Winning against Middlesbrough is seen as a step towards confidence for upcoming matches.

"It's a really good game for us against really good quality opposition"

Martin sees the Middlesbrough match as a valuable test for his team.

"Some of the guys who haven't played so many minutes will definitely play some minutes."

This shows Martin's commitment to developing all players and not just the starters.

"We need to be able to see those guys. I know we can trust to put them on the pitch."

Martin expresses confidence in his squad’s ability to perform under pressure.

"It's important to have this game in front of our supporters at Ibrox."

Martin highlights the significance of home support in preparing for the season.

Martin's strategy reflects a thoughtful approach to balancing player fatigue and readiness as the season unfolds. Training depth is key during the pre-season, particularly as Rangers prepares for a critical Champions League matchup. Utilizing friendly matches to gauge the entire squad’s readiness can strengthen team dynamics and ensure players feel valued. Yet, there is a risk in rotating players so extensively. It can disrupt team chemistry and performance consistency, particularly in vital competitions where results are critical.