Rangers gem out vs Motherwell and doubt for Benfica after weird update.
As the fixtures begin to come thick and fast once more, Rangers will try to preserve ahold of their status at the top of the Scottish Premiership whilst also navigating a path through Benfica in the Europa League. But that’s obviously easier said than done, especially after Philippe Clement’s latest injury update.
Rangers injury news
The Gers already had a significant injury list, making Clement’s recent effort even more astonishing to leapfrog Celtic at the top of the league. Even before the latest update, Rangers were on course to be without as many as five players ahead of their next encounter against Motherwell.
| Rangers’ injury list (via Rangers News) | Timeline of return |
|---|---|
| Rabbi Matondo | Unknown |
| Abdallah Sima | Mid April |
| Alex Lowry | Mid-late March |
| Kieran Dowell | Late March |
| Todd Cantwell | Late March |
| Danilo Pereira | Early April |
With Celtic lying just two points behind in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers can’t afford a single slip-up in the next few weeks. As their injury list rises and fixtures keep coming, however, that may prove to be more and more tough for the Gers.
Making matters worse, Clement said that Oscar Cortes had a muscular injury against Kilmarnock and would now visit a specialist, with his return date undetermined.
Given that the former AS Monaco boss couldn’t give an answer as to when those at Ibrox may expect their January loan acquisition to return, he looks certain to miss Rangers’ Europa League last 16 clash against Benfica. The first game, which comes in Portugal, is as soon as next Thursday, but the second leg takes place on March 14 at Ibrox in a critical clash for Rangers’ European dreams.
Cortes has already impressed at Rangers
“He is somebody who can aid the team and who feels happy in his manner of football. He had six months in Lens, where they had a different style and he didn’t play many minutes – or almost nothing – but it’s good that our recruitment knew him already for a long time and they said he would fit the team and the squad and he could give something that we need for the next couple of months
“It’s clear already from the first training that he can help us with achieving our goals.”
In many ways, Cortes’ positive impression makes his injury blow all the more difficult for Rangers, especially as they prepare to face off against Portuguese giants Benfica. Clement will desperately be expecting to be delivered some encouraging news when the winger consults a specialist about his muscle condition.
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