**DEREK MCINNES SET TO DROP FIVE KEY PLAYERS FOR HIBERNIAN CLASH AFTER EUROPA LEAGUE FAILINGS**
Derek McInnes is preparing to wield the axe at Ibrox. Just days into his tenure as Rangers manager, the former Hearts boss faces a pivotal early test against Hibernian on Sunday afternoon, and the strong indication from the early weeks of the 2026/27 campaign is that he is ready to rip up his plans and make wholesale changes. After a stuttering start that has already drawn criticism, McInnes is expected to drop as many as five players from the side that laboured in midweek European action, sending a clear message that underperformance will not be tolerated.
The backdrop is straightforward and unforgiving. McInnes was appointed in mid-June on a three-year contract after Danny Röhl’s departure to RB Salzburg. A boyhood Rangers supporter and former player (1995-2000), he arrived with a reputation for organisation, high standards and an intimate knowledge of the Scottish game. He had just guided Hearts to a second-place finish, pushing Celtic all the way in a dramatic title race. The appointment was widely viewed as a stabilising move after a turbulent period at Ibrox that had seen multiple managers in a short space of time.
Yet the early returns have been underwhelming. Rangers opened the Premiership season with a 1-1 draw at Dundee United on 31 July. Then came the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round in Poland. McInnes’s side took an early lead through an own goal but collapsed, conceding twice through defensive lapses to lose 2-1 to Jagiellonia Białystok. The manager was blunt afterwards. “We beat ourselves,” he said. “We made two mistakes for the two goals… We’ve seen a lot tonight of what I thought Rangers were last season. I thought they gave up too many chances and gave teams too much encouragement.” He spoke of a lack of concentration, aggression and organisation, and of “bad habits” carrying over from the previous campaign.
Those words set the tone for the coming days. With the second leg against Jagiellonia still to come and a domestic fixture against Hibernian at Ibrox on 9 August, McInnes is assessing his squad ruthlessly. The expectation among many observers and supporters is that he will make significant alterations for the Hibs match — potentially five changes — to address the shortcomings exposed in Poland and to inject fresh energy and accountability into the side.
Team news remains fluid as of Saturday 8 August. Ben Godfrey is ruled out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained earlier. New South African centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, signed from Philadelphia Union, is available and could make his debut. Midfielders Connor Barron and José Cifuentes remain long-term absentees with knee issues. Beyond the injuries, selection decisions will hinge on performance. Players involved in the defensive collapses in Białystok, or those who have struggled to adapt quickly to McInnes’s demands, are under the microscope. Names such as Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande have already featured in fan discussion around possible omissions, reflecting the intensity of scrutiny that comes with the Rangers job.
McInnes has already shown a willingness to rotate. For the trip to Poland he made five changes from the side that started against Dundee United, bringing in Ross McCrorie, Tochi Chukwuani, Dan Neil (who captained the side), new signing Daisuke Yokota and Youssef Chermiti. Lawrence Shankland, the high-profile summer arrival from Hearts, started on the bench. That pattern of decisive selection calls is likely to continue. The manager has spoken of the need for players to meet the “standard that fits this club.” Those who fall short risk being left out of the matchday squad entirely or relegated to the substitutes’ bench.
The pressure is inherent in the role. Rangers supporters demand consistency, intensity and results, particularly against domestic rivals. Hibernian arrive at Ibrox having navigated their own early-season challenges, including Conference League qualifying commitments. David Gray’s side will look to exploit any lingering fragility in the Rangers defence and capitalise on the uncertainty that can accompany a new managerial regime. McInnes, who will be serving part of a touchline ban for comments made while still at Hearts, will watch from the stands and expect his players to respond without him in the technical area.
This moment is significant beyond one fixture. McInnes was hired because the club’s hierarchy believed he understood the demands of the job better than most. He knows the league, the culture, and the expectation that Rangers should be competing at the top. His early public comments have emphasised the need to become “relevant” again domestically and to win trophies. A strong response against Hibs — through both selection and performance — would help settle nerves after the European setback and the opening-day draw. A flat display, or continued defensive vulnerability, would only amplify the early questions.
The broader squad picture remains a work in progress. Summer arrivals including Shankland, Cammy Devlin, Dan Neil, Ross McCrorie, Ivor Pandur and others are still integrating. Some established players face competition for places as McInnes streamlines the group. The manager has been open about the need for further incomings and outgoings before the window closes. Performance in the coming weeks will influence who stays central to his plans and who finds themselves on the fringes.
For the players, the message is clear. McInnes is not a manager who will paper over cracks or protect reputations for long. The Jagiellonia defeat was not just a result; it was a warning. Defensive mistakes, a lack of focus, and a failure to maintain the intensity that had given Rangers control early in the game were unacceptable. Those who contributed to the collapse, or who have not yet shown the required levels in training and matches, risk being the ones left out when the team sheet is named for Hibernian.
Supporters will watch closely. The Ibrox crowd can be a powerful force when the team performs with energy and purpose. They can also turn quickly if standards slip. McInnes, a former player who understands the club’s DNA, is banking on that support while demanding better from those wearing the shirt. Five changes may sound drastic so early in a campaign, but in the context of the midweek failings and the need to set a tone, it would be consistent with a manager determined to impose his methods without delay.
As Rangers prepare for Hibernian, the narrative is one of accountability. Derek McInnes has made it clear he will not accept the bad habits of the recent past. Whether that results in exactly five star names being omitted remains to be confirmed when the official team news emerges, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. Players must raise their levels or risk being left behind. The Hibs match offers the first major domestic opportunity to demonstrate that the message has been received. For McInnes and for Rangers, the early season is already about proving that the standards he expects will be met — or else.
- The coming days will reveal the precise shape of his response. What is already evident is that the new manager is prepared to make difficult decisions in pursuit of the consistency and steel that Rangers require if they are to challenge at the top of the Scottish Premiership and progress in Europe. The axe is sharpened. Some high-profile names may feel its edge this weekend.
