Regardless, three points is the most important outcome but manager Philippe Clement does have massive decisions to make given the injuries we are having to contend with.
Players are dropping like flies in that regard, with Lundstram and Kemar Roofe confirmed on Friday as being absentees for the Lanarkshire encounter on Christmas Eve.
Cyriel Dessers is a stick on to play up front but who will Clement choose in midfield with the likes of Ryan Jack, Nico Raskin and Tom Lawrence still sidelined? Barry Ferguson has an idea.
Barry Ferguson names Lundstram replacement
Dujon Sterling has been filling in recently in the middle of the park and it’s safe to say he’s been fantastic.
The right-back – praised recently by his manager – earned the Viaplay Cup Final man of the match gong for his impressive Hampden display, which was off the back of an encouraging substitute performance against Real Betis.
He could certainly start alongside the returning Kieran Dowell, who was deployed as one of the two central midfielders on Wednesday against St Johnstone. But interestingly, Ferguson has floated John Souttar as a potential replacement for Lundstram.
Peter Grant initially suggested the idea, to which Ferguson replied on The Go Radio Football Show: “It’s a good shout. I was thinking about that today because obviously, John Lundstram is going to be out.
“Sterling is a right-back or centre-back but he’s come in and done a good job. John Souttar, for me, his ideal position is centre-half but you could see him as that No6 in the middle of the pitch.
“So it will be interesting to see what he (Clement) does on Sunday. He’s obviously said players have played out of position and I’m sure if you ask John Souttar, I think he would go in there and be a good replacement in the middle of the pitch.”
Dujon Sterling vs John Souttar
Ferguson seemed confident that Souttar, a good passer of the ball, would fit in just fine as a central midfielder.
But it would be a huge risk for Clement to field the former Hearts man over Sterling when the latter has proven in two huge consecutive games that he is more than capable of being Lundstram’s replacement.
Dowell starting again would be another great boost for his confidence, coupled with his clear quality. The former Norwich man is a ball player and having the more defensively capable and athletic Sterling alongside him would make more sense than Souttar.
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