- Rangers face four injury doubts ahead of crucial clash with Motherwell this Sunday.
- Trio return to training, including Ryan Naderi, boosting hopes for Premiership run-in.
- Danny Rohl assessing squad fitness with league title race finely balanced.
Rangers have returned to Scotland ahead of the Premiership title run in following a week at a Spanish warm-weather training camp.
This was head coach Danny Rohl’s final chance to assess his squad ahead of the final five matches of the season.
Rangers sit one point behind leaders Hearts, whilst sitting two clear of third-placed Celtic, with away trips to both title rivals still to come.
Rohl managed to give training time to players returning from injury, but doubts still hang over the head of several players ahead of Sunday’s clash with Motherwell.
“It’s good to have the group together, the players together,” the boss explained to the Rangers Review.
“To have a little bit of time for recovery but also to work on some small details. It’s also good to refresh the mind.”
Despite the time to recover, four players remain doubtful for the match at Ibrox this weekend.
Here is who and what the issues are.
Tuur Rommens
The left-back missed the win over Falkirk just prior to the Gers’ trip away, having also missed the previous clash with Dundee United due to a muscle injury.
Rohl however described his treatment as “very successful” and the Belgian defender was pictured amongst the group in Spain.
Jayden Meghoma, Rommens’ understudy was subbed off after a difficult match against John McGlynns side.
Rohl will be hoping to have his first choice back for Motherwell’s visit, but the January signing from Westerlo remains doubtful for the clash.
He should, however, be fully fit for the title six-pointer away to Hearts a week on Monday.
Ryan Naderi
The German forwards season was feared to be over after picking up a knock against the Arabs.
Ahead of the Falkirk match Rohl doubted himself whether we would see the January addition in action again this campaign.
“Ryan Naderi has a serious injury,” he said.
“We have assessed him, but we will just take it week by week.
“We are monitoring him, and we don’t know if he will be back before the end of the season.”
However, like Rommens, Naderi was pictured training in Spain.
This has given fans renewed hope of seeing the striker return for the run in.
We previously assessed the usual recovery time for this type of injury.
Based off usual timescales, this weekend will be too soon for the striker, but either Tynecastle or Celtic Park could come around in time for a welcome return.
Bailey Rice
Bailey Rice has missed almost the entirety of this season with an unspecified training injury picked up in November.
The Scotland U21 international has only played only 45 minutes of football this season.
Those coming in an unfamiliar left-back position in an early season League Cup tie with Alloa under Russell Martin.
His last involvement in a matchday squad came in early November, making the bench against Roma in the Europa League.
His last action of any kind came with the B team in the Challenge Cup, featuring against Annan in September.
Rohl had said Rice’s surgery was “a big one” and was unsure if he would return this season.
However, he was also included in training photos from Spain.
He now could add extra depth to midfield ahead of a tight run in.
With his contract expiring this summer, the 19-year-old needs to make some sort of impression on the German to earn an Ibrox future.
Derek Cornelius
The Canadian international has had a turbulent spell since his arrival on loan from Marseille in the summer.
Initially seen as a first-choice defender under the now axed Martin, he picked up a thigh injury early in Rohl’s tenure.
This seen him out until recent weeks, when he made his return to action with Jesse Marsch’s national side.
However, a rift between player and coach seen him training separately and even demoted to the youth side for a period.
He returned to first-team training after his spell with Canada.
This was without ever taking part in a youth session but has not made a matchday squad since.
With John Souttar out of form, Rohl may be forced to once again entrust the defender in the run in, now that he is fit and available once again.
Rangers host Motherwell this Sunday, April 26, with a 3pm kick off at Ibrox.
