Rangers manager Derek McInnes may have played something of a blinder ahead of the St Johnstone clash at Ibrox. Following Friday’s press conference, the Rangers boss sparked considerable concern over a sickness bug affecting his squad. However, Saturday’s team selection suggests the situation was nowhere near as serious as supporters feared.

Rangers sickness bug sparks alarm

McInnes revealed that approximately half a dozen players had suffered from an illness during the week.

Furthermore, the Rangers manager claimed that he had received a concerning call from the club doctor about a key player.

Naturally, this raised questions about which first team stars might miss the crucial Scottish Premiership encounter.

Indeed, the Ibrox boss suggested that one or two regular starters had encountered problems.

Consequently, supporters understandably anticipated at least one significant absence when Rangers announced their starting eleven.

However, the actual team sheet told a rather different story.

McInnes names strongest available Rangers team

Remarkably, every normally available key player appeared in the Rangers squad.

Dujon Sterling started, while Owethu Makhanya, Emmanuel Fernandez and James Penrice completed the defence.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Raskin and Dan Neil retained their midfield places.

Badredine Bouanani, Minsu Kim, Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi also featured in the starting eleven.

Furthermore, Tuur Rommens, whom McInnes specifically identified as suffering from the bug, appeared among the substitutes.

Therefore, the supposed illness crisis produced no obvious unexpected absences whatsoever.

Of course, Rangers still lack Lawrence Shankland, Daisuke Yokota, Cammy Devlin and Ross McCrorie through their existing injury problems.

Nevertheless, those absences had nothing to do with Friday’s dramatic revelations.

Did Rangers deliberately mislead St Johnstone?

This raises an intriguing possibility.

Did Derek McInnes deliberately exaggerate the situation to keep St Johnstone guessing?

After all, opposition managers prepare extensively for particular players and tactical systems.

Consequently, suggestions that several Rangers regulars might miss the match could disrupt those preparations.

Furthermore, journalists naturally seized upon the apparent illness crisis.

Yet Saturday’s selection suggests McInnes had considerably fewer problems than his comments initially implied.

That does not establish deliberate deception. Players may simply have recovered before kick off.

Nevertheless, the timing certainly invites speculation.

Rangers boss gets the last laugh?

Ultimately, McInnes may have enjoyed a rather amusing victory over the media before a ball was kicked.

His comments generated concern, uncertainty and considerable speculation about Rangers’ available personnel.

However, the Ibrox team sheet revealed virtually the strongest squad he could currently select.

Indeed, the much discussed sickness bug appeared to have remarkably little impact on his options.

Perhaps the Rangers manager simply exercised caution when discussing players’ health.

Alternatively, perhaps he recognised an opportunity to keep St Johnstone and the media guessing.

Either way, Rangers supporters will hardly complain about seeing their key players available.

And if McInnes deliberately played his cards close to his chest, the joke may well have worked.