Michael Beale, unfortunately, has alluded to yet another injury problem for Ryan Jack, after he ‘felt something’ which ‘wasn’t ideal’ after Thistle, which could give Rangers a bit of a problem for Livi, to say the least.
The manager, speaking pre-Livi, was explaining Rangers’ injury issues, and detailed a few players around whom there were doubts, but it was the mention of Jack which irked him the most because Rangers could be down to just one defensive midfielder in the form of Glen Kamara should all the names mentioned be unable to make it.
And in the case of Jack, we’d managed a few months for him without any injury issues, but for the ugly tale to resurface just when we’re short on fit midfielders is far from ideal.
Lundstram is touch and go, Raskin is a little short of fitness, and Jack is a huge doubt now, leaving just Glen Kamara as the only midfielder in that engine who is definitely fit.
Scotty Arfield can’t really play there but if need be he will, as an emergency utility, assuming, that is, he’s fit himself. Steven Davis, of course, is completely out for the season and will probably play no further part as a Rangers player.
So the options are thin, but it’s the return to the treatment table for Ryan Jack that is the more concerning, and probably depressing. When Ibrox Noise brought you the story some weeks ago of his desire for a new deal, it was only a sympathetic minority who were in favour of him getting one.
His frequent injuries and changed position (he’s now really playing as an actual 8 these days, no longer a defensive player in the same way) led to the majority veering towards letting him go.
Our view? He’s not contributing what he did, even when fit – he’s a decent player but nowhere near the level he was, and that makes him a little more expendable, even if he’s a well-liked and popular player – he’s been here 6 years so a good servant, but maybe hasn’t been able to have the full career he wanted to at Ibrox.
And with this latest injury, we couldn’t even guess how long he’ll be out for this time…