It has been unofficially confirmed that Oscar Cortes will indeed miss the remainder of the season, after a South American journalist (and the player himself) announced Cortes’ operation went successfully and his return was said to be around two months.

We think that’s an incredibly optimistic projection, given the player just posted a snap of himself post-surgery in a hospital bed, looking, admittedly, very chipper indeed.

But even if that incredibly positive spin on it was accurate, unfortunately that still means that he won’t be fit again till mid-May at the earliest and that’s bang on time when the season pretty much ends.

So it’s now 99% likely that Cortes has indeed played his last match for Rangers this season, and we do not know how that affects the knock-on impact of his permanent signature.

We also do not know exactly where he currently is, whether he got his treatment in the UK or flew home to Colombia (or back to France) for it so we don’t know if Rangers or Lens are footing the actual bill for his treatment either, although it’s claimed Rangers are ‘responsible’ for the process.

But what does matter is his prognosis, and while the surgery was a success we would be astonished if Cortes was seen in a Rangers shirt again in anger this season.

As for the journo?

A Colombian chap called Pipe Sierra who said:

“Óscar Cortés (20) suffered a muscle injury in his posterior and will undergo a surgical procedure that will leave him off the field for about 2 months. Although the Colombian still belongs to Lens, all process will be supervised by Rangers.”

Rangers manager Philippe Clement did say long term, and at this stage of the season that pretty much ruled the lad out of the run in, and we’d say despite the possibility he’ll be fit again for the split, it’s only that, a slim possibility.

It’s not a probability.

We’d be very surprised if either of our South Americans (Cortes and Danilo) are fit enough to make a difference before this season is out.