RANGERS boss Philippe Clement insists he'll never make kneejerk selections decisions based on what fans' think - because they don't have the full picture.
The Belgian was pondering whether to hand John Lundstram a Scottish Cup recall for Saturday's showpiece with Celtic.
The big Scouser has been a consistent member of his team over the last few months but knives are out for him amongst the support after a nightmarish personal showing in the last Old Firm game with Celtic which saw him score and own goal and get sent off.
The star's future is also a source of long term intrigue amid suggestions that he and Borna Barisic will leave the club this summer for Trabzonspor.
But he's available again following a two-match suspension and it's all something of a dilemma for Clement who already seems certain to find himself with a fairly major rebuild on his hands at Ibrox this summer.
He went with a central midfield trio of Lundstram, Tom Lawrence and Mohamed Diomande at Celtic Park, but they found themselves overrun at times against the strongest area of Celtic's team.
There's a risk of the same thing happening again at Hampden with the cup on the line, although Clement doesn't have huge amounts of options.
The versatile Dujon Sterling could move in there if not needed elsewhere, while Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin and even Ryan Jack could have a role to play if he opts to change things up.
But first of all Clement mounted what seemed to be a defence of sorts of Lundstram.
He said: “I am never going to make decisions about what fans are thinking at that moment. Because that is emotions.
"They don't see trainings, they don't see the team working.
"They don't even know the playters, how they are in the dressing room.
"So I don't think I need to answer that question. It is about a decision based on what I have seen the last couple of months in the games."
The Gers boss admits he is in the horns of another injury crisis ahead of the showpiece but insists some of his players would play "on crutches' if they could.
Keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of the game, he did hit that he may have to risk players who aren't fully fit - as it is the last game of the season with silverware on the line.
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