It’s not an overstatement to say that Danny Rohl is picking his most important teamsheet of his Rangers career on Sunday.

Rangers welcome Hearts to Ibrox in a 4:30pm kick-off on Sunday, on an afternoon that could shape the course of the Premiership season for both teams.

Derek McInnes’ men are five points clear of Rohl‘s side heading into the game, and the Jam Tarts will know that a win could, depending on Celtic’s result away at Kilmarnock, put them into a very commanding position.

Rohl has been coming in for some criticism from Rangers supporters over some of his team selections and personnel decisions in recent games, but he will have to get his lineup spot on this Sunday if the points are to stay in Glasgow.

Danny Rohl must get Skov Olsen/Djeidi Gassama decision right

One source of growing frustration from the Gers faithful in recent outings has been the form of Djeidi Gassama, and the persistence to select him by Rohl.

Having reunited with him upon taking the Rangers job due to their time spent together at Sheffield Wednesday, the 22-year-old winger is definitely a player Rohl trusts to perform.

That’s largely been the case this season too, as the Frenchman has been one of Gers’ standout performers over the course of the campaign, but his performances have cooled over the last couple of games.

Indeed, he’s not provided a single goal contribution in any of his last three appearances in all competitions, and was replaced with 16 minutes to play in the 1-1 draw with Motherwell last time out.

As detailed in the above graphic from Sofascore, Gassama won just two of his duels against Motherwell, completed one dribble and registered just one shot on goal, which was off target.

So, Rohl has a huge call to make on Sunday, does he stand by Gassama, or does he perhaps turn to winter signing Andreas Skov Olsen to come in and provide something different to the attack?

The Danish international wasn’t called upon from the bench against Motherwell, but he did get his first Rangers goal against Kilmarnock on 4 February, and has largely looked bright in his three Premiership outings so far.

It’s undoubtedly a tough call to make, and Rangers fans won’t be envying Rohl, but it’s one that he simply must get right, as it could cost them valuable points and standing with the fans if not.

Gassama has earned the right to see Rohl trust placed in him

Whilst it’s true that Gassama is out of form at the moment, with his goalscoring purple patch of late January behind him, there’s no doubting he’s one of the best wingers in the Premiership on his day.

The magnitude of Sunday’s game isn’t getting lost on anyone from either side, and Rohl needs as many players out there wearing royal blue that he can trust to get the job done.

Gassama, with the performances he’s banked up under Rohl’s rule, has thus surely done enough to keep his place in the team for the biggest game of the season.

Skov Olsen’s fitness levels are still in question at the moment, and Gassama has proven that he can impact games even when he’s not playing 90 minutes. Expect to see him getting the nod on Sunday.

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