Rangers will lose Abdallah Sima potentially for the bulk of January as the red-hot forward was selected for Senegal’s AFCON squad hosted by the Ivory Coast.

The attacker, 23, has been in the form his life over the past few months, and while he had a little dry spell, his goals returned with a vengeance and he’s firmly among the top goalscorers both at the club and in the league.

Sadly, the cost for the club is losing him to Africa’s showpiece competition, as Rangers have had to deal with many times before with the likes of Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun all travelling with their country.

Leon Balogun was not selected for Nigeria’s AFCON squad but ex-Ibrox team mates Aribo and Bassey both were in the provisional list, while fellow ex-Rangers man Fashion Sakala is also in his country’s provisional, and current team mate Cyriel Dessers was in Nigeria’s provisional.

But Sima is definitely going to Africa, and that’s a blow for sure for the club.

Great for the player, to represent his nation in the big showpiece, and we’re sure he’s absolutely thrilled to get the call, but it does weaken Rangers and takes our second-top goalscorer away.

Indeed, this means that for January, Rangers, at worst, could be right back down the ‘swanney’ with just one striker at our disposal for the whole month as things stand.

No Sima, Roofe injured, Dessers potentially going to AFCON if he makes the final squad, and Danilo out.

The only man available would be new signing Fabio Silva and he’s not even joined fully yet!

So Sima’s call, while worthy of praise, is not ideal for Philippe Clement or Rangers and could cost us many goals next month.

But, we have to offer him congratulations – he’s earned the recognition!

Pity it’s not the best news for Rangers!