Rangers’ injury and unavailables situation, unfortunately, is back into ‘mess’ territory, and while the squad is not completely spent, there are far too many injuries or ‘indisposed’ at this point of the season for it to be remotely ‘acceptable’ or ‘normal’.
Ibrox Noise take you through all our injuries at present:
Danilo:
Currently in Holland for rehab over yet more surgery, this time on his knee, he’s been estimated out for a month, and yet was omitted from the entire Europa League campaign which lasts until the very end of January. Something doesn’t add up there. Yet more terrible management/judgement from Philippe Clement?
Ridvan:
Been out for a while with a hamstring, his ETA isn’t clear and Rangers are utterly desperate at left back. He’s the only LB we have, and we’re looking at more weeks without him. And yet he was INCLUDED in the Europa League squad…
Rabbi Matondo:
He’s estimated out for up to 3 months with a hamstring, or whatever it is – we lose track with this lad. He has also been omitted from the Europa League squad.
Nico Raskin:
We don’t know how ready he is, he’s been injured for ages having sustained it in preseason, but he was in the group at Ibrox for the Celtic match. He will be a long way behind but he is at least seemingly eking his way back in.
Oscar Cortes:
Included in the Europa League squad, he is back in training but he’s got some recuperation to do. We don’t know what the timescale is beyond the 5 weeks estimate Clement put on him when he sustained the knock.
Robin Propper:
He ‘recovered’ from injury enough to play v Celtic, but he was absolutely miles off the pace and lasted till 80 minutes before Leon Balogun replaced him. We don’t really know what his present physical state actually is.
Hamza Igamane:
Got his long-awaited Rangers debut as a sub v Celtic and did ok, but how far is he away from being a starter? From being a regular? This is, and was, a very, very strange signing. He’s in the Europa League squad.
Ianis Hagi:
This isn’t an injury, it’s exile. A lot of fans don’t agree with it, but we personally don’t see the boy as particularly impressive and Clement isn’t interested either so that one will remain. Rumours about contract renegotiation were just a load of mince. He’s on the same deal he was, Rangers don’t want to pay a higher rate for an average player who never greatly impressed for the club or on loan. £30,000pw for Hagi? Not a chance. Sure, the clause might be there, but Rangers have no interest in activating it. This is on Ross Wilson for agreeing it.
And that’s the lot.