Todd Cantwell injured as Rangers star ruled out of playing for up to a month.

Gers want to extend their advantage at the top of the Premiership when they face off against Hearts, but they will have to do it without one of their major men after a hamstring injury.

Todd Cantwell has been ruled out of playing for Rangers for up to four weeks after suffering an injury in a blow to Philippe Clement and his team.

The 25-year-old English midfielder has been essential to the Ibrox side’s recent success but came off in the win over St Johnstone, in which he was also instrumental, and will be out with a hamstring injury – Light Blues boss Philippe Clement confirmed.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Hearts to Ibrox on Saturday, Clement said: “Todd Cantwell will be out for a few weeks which is disappointing but that is football. Kemar Roofe has trained this week and he will be in the squad.”

Clement’s team can move five points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit but the Belgian knows they face a big assignment against Hearts – and not only red-hot Lawrence Shankland who was widely linked with Rangers during the transfer window, as reported by the Record. The Gers boss said: “We have already played Hearts several times – they are a quality team, they are well organised and have a prolific goalscorer. Shankland has secured a lot for Hearts but he is not the primary emphasis because they have other outstanding players.

“We never go into games thinking about one players. We focus on how we need to play and the philosophy is to focus on us. They are not scared to pick their moments so we need to be dominant and break them down. What has given us a lot of energy is the fans at Ibrox – I expect a supporting audience from the warm-up to the end of the game to urge the team forward.”

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