Rangers have been handed a major boost with Nikola Katic set to return from injury early in 2021, according to the player’s agent [Daily Record].
Katic required surgery after sustaining a serious knee injury during pre-season training in July.
He was immediately ruled out for a lengthy period and as a result, Rangers dipped into the transfer market to recruit Leon Balogun as the Croatian’s replacement.
Yet, it seems the two players could be competing for a spot in the side sooner rather than later.
“All is going well,” said Katic’s agent, Ives Cakarun, as quoted by the Daily Record. “We hope Nikola will be ready for January. It was a big operation, cruciate ligaments and both meniscus.”
The 24-year-old cost the Gers a reported £2m [Sky Sports] when he signed from Slaven Belupo in 2018 and has since gone on to make 59 appearances for the club in all competitions.
His best moment in a Rangers shirt so far was scoring a header in a 2-1 Old Firm victory at Parkhead last season.
The news is a major boost for Steven Gerrard given that he currently only has three senior centre-backs at his disposal in Balogun, Connor Goldson and Filip Helander.
With George Edmundson serving a seven-game suspension and Lewis Mayo out on loan at Dunfermline, the Gers are currently a little light on defensive cover.
It now sounds as though Katic will be fit and able to fill that void following the turn of the year, with the Gers facing Celtic, Motherwell, Hibernian, Ross County and Aberdeen during the month of January.
