The weekend is here, but there is still no Rangers game to look forward to for another two days.
The Gers face Hearts on Monday evening, in a game where anything but a win will cost Rangers the league title.
Danny Rohl has some serious decisions to make ahead of the contest, and one is starting Mo Diomande in midfield.
Diomande has been battling injury in the last month or two.
But his cameo against Motherwell showed he’s ready for the season finale.
Last weekend’s defeat, the first in 16 league games, was a wake-up call.
Now, Danny Rohl needs to wake up and answer that call, and fielding Mo Diomande is essential to Rangers’ chances.
Diomande’s performance at Ibrox
The Gers were terrible in the first half against Motherwell, looking sluggish in midfield, and the Steelmen dominated possession.
Diomande was introduced at halftime for Tochi Chukwuani, and the Gers suddenly found that bite and energy in midfield.
He played only 45 minutes but registered an assist and earned a 7.5 FotMob rating, the highest in the Rangers midfield that day.
He demanded the ball, drove into the final third, and forced Motherwell onto the back foot.
Rangers essentially spent the second half chasing a game they had surrendered in the first.
Starting Diomande ensures that Rangers set the tempo from the first whistle, rather than relying on him to salvage a result from the bench.
The stats to back him up
The tactical challenge posed by Derek McInnes’ table-topping Hearts cannot be understated.
Derek McInnes has transformed the Jambos into a disciplined, high-intensity unit that thrives on a suffocating mid-block press and rapid transitions.
Against such a well-drilled side, Rangers’ biggest risk is a static midfield that passes sideways and invites pressure.
Diomande boasts the energy and an 85% passing success rate that will allow Rangers to keep the ball and get up the pitch.
His ability to receive the ball under pressure and turn into space will be vital in transitioning Rangers from defence to attack.
His 91 recoveries this season highlight an elite work rate that ensures he is as much a shield as he is a weapon.
Where the margin for error is razor-thin, Diomande’s dual-threat profile offers a balance of creative spark and defensive grit.
Read Rangers analysis
The Achillies heal for Rangers in recent weeks has been their energy and lack of bite in the midfield in the first half.
Diomande possesses the qualities in and out of possession that Rangers need to beat Hearts on Monday.
He made a direct impact against Motherwell and has earned his chance to play in the biggest game of the season.
Rangers need a strong heartbeat if they are to survive at Tynecastle, and Diomande is the player who offers that.
