A leading journalist has moved to clarify rumours of a series injury to new Rangers signing Rabbi Matondo, quelling fan fears that the unspecified knock will keep him out for an extended spell.
Jonny McFarlane of the Rangers Review took to Twitter to claim that Welsh international Matondo, 21, will be out for three to four days after playing 70 minutes in the 2-1 defeat against Spurs.
Explaining that the knock is “nothing serious”, the fact this injury has come so close to both the Scottish Premiership opener with Livingston and the Champions League qualifier with Union Saint Gilloise will have some fans nervous.
The news means that Rabbi Matondo may well be a doubt for the league opener away to the Lions with ex-Aberdeen winger Scott Wright likely to deputise in the event of any absence.
Rangers in Rabbi Matondo boost as West Ham rue Nayef Aguerd blow
Signed on a reported £2.5m deal this summer, Rabbi Matondo is seen by many as the solution to that troublesome right-wing position and the ex-Schalke star’s signature is amongst the most exciting ahead of the new campaign.
Matondo has impressed in pre-season and even opened his Rangers account with a goal in the 3-1 friendly victory over West Ham United at Ibrox.
Fans will be hoping any injury is indeed not serious and that they can see the explosive Welsh international winger tearing it up for the Gers competitively in the weeks to come.
Rabbi Matondo is one of seven new signings at Ibrox this season, joining John Souttar, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, Malik Tillman, Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz as a new addition.
Whilst Rangers fans have been boosted by this Rabbi Matondo injury news, perhaps the Ibrox club’s supporters can spare a thought for West Ham’s Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd.
A £28m signing from Rennes earlier in the summer, the big 26-year-old defender limped off in the Hammers’ trip to Ibrox and has just undergone ankle surgery as a result.
According to the Daily Mail, this makes the centre-back a sizeable doubt for the beginning of the Premier League season, where West Ham kick off against Man City on August 7th.
But for Rangers fans the focus will be on the fitness of Rabbi Matondo and the other Ibrox stars and it looks like positive news when it comes to any injury to the Welshman.
Speaking of new Rangers signings, the Ibrox club have just flexed their £49m muscles to announce a new signing this week.