Ryan Jack’s return has been given a date, and Rangers fans won’t be thrilled with it. Ibrox Noise sources have learned that the midfielder isn’t expected to play again this year, with a January return the most optimistic estimation we have.

Jack’s injury troubles have become deeply infamous, and it’s been one problem after another.

Years ago, it was made clear how complex his injury issues actually are, and how he had to be treated with kid gloves. Hence Steve Clarke’s ignorant coaching of him drew Rangers’ ire and the Scotland coach may well have been the instigator of Jack’s present woes.

And the information we’ve heard isn’t positive, with a minimum of a further three months out.

Of course, Jack could prove our source wrong, and we and they would love nothing more, but it’s not looking too rosy at present.

Even Gary Mac’s effective ‘he’ll be back when he’s back’ statement on Friday rather summed up the club’s position on this.

So, we can probably write him off until 2022, unless the lad happens upon a miracle cure before then.

We can only hope.