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I have no doubts Connor Barron will be able to deal with Aberdeen boo-boys, says Rangers boss Philippe Clement
Three other Gers stars have been cleared to return to action, read on to find out more
PHILIPPE CLEMENT has backed Connor Barron to be unaffected by the Aberdeen boo-boys.
The Rangers star returns to Pittodrie tomorrow night having quit the Dons for a summer move to Ibrox.
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Barron, 21, looks set to be targeted for verbal abuse.
But Clement insists: “I worked with a lot of young players in my career and as a player and as a manager, he's one of the most mature that I've met at that age.
“It will be, for him, the first time like that.
“But I'm sure he's ready for that and he's just focused on football.
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“That's his strong point also.
“He's only busy with football and with his ambitions to become better and become important for this club. So, I don't have any doubts about that.”
The Dons support are set to pack out Pittodrie to create a hostile atmosphere for Gers.
But Clement insists his side will be ready.
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He added: “We have one boy in the building who was there before, with Connor.
“We have also several players who played there before.
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“We have other new ones, so it's my task also and I did today to speak about circumstances and the way a team will perform, how they will play against us.
“So, yeah, they know.”
Asked what type of games he’s expecting against Jimmy Thelin’s Dons, Clement added: “A big battle.
“They are a team who play really physical football with fast transitions using their speed in front.
“They are a very collective team with a very good team mentality.
“So in that way, not so much differences with what it was last season when we went there.
“It was quite similar in that way, but in another formation with some other players also.
“They played really well last season in that game that we played there.
“I speak about that particular game that moment.
“So, it was a tough battle that moment to get a result there.
“It will be that kind of game also again.
“With a slightly different formation they played between the back and that moment.
“But it's also really direct, using the base in front.
“Going into transitions in the set pieces really strong.
“And with a few really good signings that they made also to make more stability than last season.
“It's a really good team. So, a lot of respect to them.
“But there is a lot of confidence and belief in our team to go there to get a good result.
“But also a lot of respect to what's happening and what they've been doing in the beginning of the season.
“And how they've played and how they took their points. So, it's going to be a huge battle.
“Like they showed also against other good teams in the league that they played really well.”
Gers are boosted with the news John Souttar and Tom Lawrence have been passed fit to play. Ianis Hagi is available again after suspension.
Clement added: “The more players we have, the better it is.
“Also with this amount of games, you see every game.
“There are some people with niggles and small things, so we need to take everything into account."
Gers star Nedim Bajrami insists the Ibrox side know the importance of the upcoming clash.
He added: "I think every game is big for us, every game is important, but we know tomorrow how important is the game against Aberdeen, because they are still unbeaten this season.
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"So we go there and give our best and our best performance ever.
"I think if we're going to take these three points, they will change something, not only for us, but even in the whole season, because it's important also for our self-confidence."
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