Rangers Football Club faces a significant blow with the news that captain Lawrence Shankland is expected to be out of action for up to four months due to a torn hamstring. The injury, which occurred during a recent match against Motherwell, could necessitate surgery and may sideline the striker until the end of the year.
Shankland, 31, suffered the injury in the early stages of the 1-0 victory at Ibrox. Subsequent medical tests confirmed a significant tear, similar to an injury he sustained with Hearts last season. He is scheduled to consult with a specialist to determine the best course of treatment, which may include surgical intervention.
This latest setback adds to Rangers' injury concerns, with fellow forward Youssef Chermiti already ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. Prior to his own injury, Shankland had been in strong form, scoring three goals in his two preceding games.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes expressed his disappointment, noting that the injury occurred after a prolonged stoppage in play due to VAR communication issues. "It happened right when the VAR communications had broken down and there was all that standing about," McInnes stated. "I think it was about two-and-a-half minutes of standing around and then it was his very first sprint after that when he did it."
McInnes indicated that surgery could add an additional three to four weeks to Shankland's recovery time but might reduce the risk of re-injury. "If he has the surgery then he might be an extra three or four weeks. But if he has a surgery, then it lessens a risk of it maybe happening again," he said. The manager anticipates having a clearer picture of the timeline within 48 hours.
With Shankland and Chermiti unavailable, McInnes will rely on forwards Ryan Naderi, Kevin Kelsy, and Bojan Miovski. He acknowledged the challenge of losing key goalscorers but also sees it as an opportunity for other players. "We have Bojan Miovski, who knows his way about the Premiership as well, so it’s not all doom and gloom on that front, but it is disappointing news," McInnes added. He highlighted the club's investment in Naderi and Kelsy, as well as Miovski's consistent performance, as reasons for optimism despite the significant absences.