Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland is expected to be sidelined for up to four months after suffering a significant hamstring tear, a recurrence of an injury he sustained last season. The forward may require surgery to address the injury, according to manager Derek McInnes. Shankland's potential absence casts a shadow over Rangers' upcoming fixtures, including domestic competitions and international matches for Scotland.
Shankland sustained the injury, described as a 2cm tear in his hamstring, during Rangers' recent 1-0 victory over Motherwell. His replacement in that match, Ryan Naderi, went on to score the game's decisive goal. McInnes stated that Shankland is currently in London undergoing scans to determine the best course of treatment with a specialist. The decision between surgery and natural healing will influence the recovery timeline, with surgery potentially adding an additional three to four weeks to his absence but reducing the risk of re-injury.
The 31-year-old striker has been a significant contributor for Rangers this season, scoring four goals in 10 appearances. His unavailability will be felt across multiple competitions, including Scottish Premiership and League Cup matches. Furthermore, Shankland will miss Scotland's Nations League fixtures scheduled from late September through mid-November. The national team is set to play North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Switzerland both home and away during this period. Shankland has previously scored seven goals in 22 international appearances for Scotland.
Rangers face a demanding schedule in the coming months, with several high-profile matches, including encounters against Celtic in the League Cup and league play, before the international break. Following the break, the club has five scheduled games in October, three in November, and six in December.
This latest injury is reminiscent of a previous setback Shankland experienced in January when he was substituted in extra time during Hearts' Scottish Cup match against Falkirk. He returned to play in mid-March of that season.
In addition to Shankland's injury, winger Daisuke Yokota is also set to miss the upcoming match against St Mirren due to a groin issue. However, left-back Tuur Rommens is nearing a return and has resumed training, with a potential comeback later this month.