Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland faces up to four months on the sidelines after sustaining a grade 2c hamstring tear during the weekend victory over Motherwell.
With Youssef Chermiti already unavailable following anterior cruciate ligament damage, Derek McInnes must immediately adjust his forward line. The manager is awaiting a specialist assessment in London. This will determine if surgical intervention is necessary for the striker.
Rebuilding The Ibrox Attack
The prolonged absence forces an immediate rethink of attacking options ahead of a busy domestic schedule. Speaking to the Daily Record, McInnes detailed the medical situation: “We’ve had confirmation he has had a grade 2c tear in his hamstring, very similar to the one he did at Hearts in January.”
McInnes confirmed the dilemma regarding the follow-up scan: “If he has the surgery it may be three or four weeks less, but maybe that increases the risk again.”
Kevin Kelsy Faces Immediate Pressure
Despite establishing crucial Rangers captaincy responsibilities, Shankland must watch from the stands while new recruits attempt to fill the void. Ryan Naderi, who secured all three points against Motherwell, will compete for minutes alongside Kevin Kelsy. The Venezuelan striker made his debut at the weekend following a major transfer from Portland Timbers.
Former Ibrox goalkeeper Cammy Bell told BBC Sport that the signing must adapt instantly: “They would have wanted to allow a little bit of time for Kelsy to find his feet in Scottish football and at Rangers. He’s not going to get that now.”
Bojan Miovski also remains an option for McInnes after a proposed summer exit failed to materialise. Rangers next host St Mirren in the Premiership on Wednesday.
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