Rangers’ burgeoning injury list has hit early-in-the-season levels once again, after yet more layoffs were confirmed by Michael Beale.
The manager has revealed Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and new injury Malik Tillman are all doubts for the cup final, but added Scott Arfield in there too and we understand Alex Lowry is also among the possibles.
Which means, ridiculously, the injury/not ready list is as follows:
Robby McCrorie, Ridvan Yilmaz, John Souttar, Filip Helander, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Ianis Hagi, Alex Lowry and Tom Lawrence.
And yet? Missing all those players, Rangers were frankly comfortable at a notorious venue in Livingston to deservedly and borderline easily win 0-3.
Rangers manager Michael Beale is most certainly right:
“What you saw today might be what we have and I was delighted with what we got today from the players. I have had to take a few deep breaths when other players have gone down injured this week, but you have to trust your next group of players. We will now wrap the boys up as we have a full week to prepare for the cup final.”
Rangers, critically, have a full defence in place, Nicolas Raskin is fit, and up front all the first choice options are very much there and in full attendance.
In short, even with the injuries, and they are absurd, Rangers have still got:
McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Raskin, Kamara, Cantwell, Kent, Morelos, Colak, Wright, Sakala, Roofe and a few others.
There is still enough there. Is it as strong as having all your options? Of course not, the bench will be very thin so things will be hard to change if the final isn’t going our way, but there is enough here to do a job. Raskin and Cantwell have been game-changers – take them out and we look a tonne weaker and optimism would be way less.
And of course, we still have a full week to maybe get a few players back too in time. But all is far from lost and Rangers still have a strong unit to put out at Hampden when it’s trophy time.