There have been a few factors responsible for the current situation on the pitch at Ibrox, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst paying the price for a far from convincing string of performances, stretching back to last season.

Fingers can be pointed toward player recruitment, especially over the summer following the high-profile departures of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo.

In addition to that, there is still too much of the nucleus of Steven Gerrard’s title-winning squad in place, long after the peak of their powers in a Rangers shirt. Has enough been spent on the squad to bring it to the required level as well as to combat the strength of a rejuvenated Celtic? Probably not is the short answer.

The Scottish Cup triumph was a welcome box ticked but was secondary to the greater achievement of getting to the Europa League final. So close to glory but immortality evaded the Dutchman and his crop of 2022. Despite the inconsistencies and contradictions between Europe and the domestic game last season, the run to Seville was a magnificent feat, with the manager tweaking and tinkering his side with bravery all the way along, powered by a vociferous Ibrox crowd.

Arguably, his worst adversary was the queue for the treatment room this season. From the very outset, a full squad was not available and that is still the case as we move through this World Cup break. Key performers and high earners such as Filip Helander, Ianis Hagi and more recently, Connor Goldson have been ruled out. Newcomers like Tom Lawrence and John Souttar were struck down as well as Ridvan Yilmaz, just as he was getting a foot in the door.

Here, we have ranked Rangers long-term injury woes and their resultant impact on the squad.

8. Nnamdi Ofoborh

Injury: Heart condition

Out since: 16th July 2021

The 23-year-old midfielder is an unknown quantity with his Rangers career being blighted due to a heart scare. “Lucky to be alive” was the description used by the London-born player in relation to his health problems. Shortly after his signing was completed, an ECG test discovered a serious issue that has prevented Ofoborh from kicking a ball for Rangers in a competitive game. His situation remains largely kept private but hopefully, he can resume his football in due course, with his health in general being the much greater priority.

7. Filip Helander

Injury: Foot

Out since: 11th April

There’s a valid argument that if the Swedish international had an extra yard of pace with much less of an injury record, he wouldn’t be playing in Scotland at all. The towering central defender was visibly schooled in Serie A with a honed craft reflecting time well spent at Hellas Verona and Bologna. Helander made a significant contribution towards the 55 title win but has not kicked a ball this season. To put things into context, he only appeared in three Premiership games for van Bronckhorst with the last game in April coming at St Mirren, when he was forced to hobble off the pitch before half-time. He should still be a Rangers regular but injuries have prevented that.

6. Kemar Roofe

Injury: Unknown

Out since: 22nd October

This situation is very similar to that of Helander. A very good player but not reliable due to fitness as he just can’t be available for more than a few weeks at best. The 29-year-old Jamaican international has made just one Premiership appearance this season with a recurrence of past patterns of injury. Roofe previously made an impact in Scotland as well as Europe but the end of his time at Ibrox is likely to be on the horizon if he can be moved on.

5. Ianis Hagi

Injury: ACL 

Out since: 24th January

The talented Romanian has made several fleeting impacts in different games during his time at Ibrox but he is yet to truly capture the imagination. That has been hampered by his adaptability across different positions, to the benefit of Gerrard and briefly van Bronckhorst, with the Dutchman deprived of his services for much of his year in charge. Hagi would have thrived in the Europa League latter stages, whilst he would have provided more quality in the final third overall. One temptation would have been for the former Fiorentina man to occupy the problematic right wing slot which is not conducive to a proper future at Ibrox, certainly not as a winger, which he is not. The new manager needs to get the best out of Hagi in the ‘10’ role as it is in that advanced position where he does his best work.

4. John Souttar

Injury: Ankle

Out since: 1st August

Souttar is a very capable defender as evidenced in a Scotland jersey as well as in the Scottish Cup Final last May in his final game for Hearts prior to his switch along the M8. He has further potential but also has a known injury record. That is not what Rangers and van Bronckhorst needed for this season, especially with doubts over Helander and the departure of Leon Balogun. Now 26, Souttar still has time on his side to be a success at Rangers but he must get to the bottom of his injury problems even if it means taking a bit longer than anticipated.

Rangers Review:  (Image: NQ)

3. Ridvan Yilmaz

Injury: Hamstring

Out since: 29th October

Over the summer, it was clear that the Rangers first team needed an injection of quality to take the next step as well as to face up to the job in the Champions League. Group-stage football was secured but as we know now, the outcome was horrendous in terms of a team out of its depth at the elite level. In Ridvan, Rangers brought in a player of potential, a ‘project’ who was not viewed or ready to make an immediate impact, even if Borna Barisic’s form has fluctuated. Approximately £3.4 million was the initial fee for the 21-year-old Turkish international who has mostly sat on the bench since his arrival in Scotland. Then just as he appeared to have a foot in the door with his start against Aberdeen in October, he was forced off with a hamstring issue.

2. Connor Goldson

Injury: Thigh strain

Out since: 12th October

An almost ever-present, Goldson’s stature has been even more apparent in his absence when he was forced off the pitch at home to Liverpool. In that game and plenty since, the void has been more than apparent with the loss of the Englishman, who has been a pillar of Rangers' first team since his arrival in 2018. Under Gerrard and van Bronckhorst, from 55 to Seville, the influential central defender has been at the heart of everything at Ibrox in recent times. The final weeks of van Bronckhorst at Rangers were compounded without the services of his vice-captain.

1. Tom Lawrence

Injury: Knee

Out since: 27th August

Just as the Welshman was going through the gears, he was struck down by the collective injury issue that has plagued Rangers this season. An apparent shrewd acquisition following his time at Derby County where he was captain under Wayne Rooney, Lawrence was getting to grips with the demands at Ibrox. Key goals and moments at Easter Road, at home to Union Saint-Gilloise as well as mixing it against PSV Eindhoven, showed what Rangers supporters had to look forward to. Unfortunately, it would be short-lived and his absence was, arguably, the most damaging to the now-departed van Bronckhorst.


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