There’s a saying in football that the international break can come at the right time for some clubs and amid a spate of injuries for Rangers, this has never been more appropriate.
The Gers have been depleted all season long and have barely been up to their full complement since Giovanni van Bronckhorst walked into the job ten months ago.
The Dutchman has been criticised for an often-laborious style of play and whilst Rangers have toiled for form at times this campaign things remain wide open after the final weekend before the break.
Rangers were huffing and puffing to get there, the club’s management under major pressure after two 4-0 drubbings on the bounce to Celtic and Ajax.
But whilst the Champions League remains an arena Rangers are struggling to box clever in, domestically nerves were relieved by Celtic’s own capitulation in the Premiership.
A well-earned 2-0 victory for St Mirren over the £40m+ Angeball miracle workers has handed Rangers a lifeline and it genuinely could not have come at a better time.
The international fortnight has been about Rangers regrouping, taking a breath and – hopefully – taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded them by Steve Robinson’s side.
But so much of what happens over the coming months up to the World Cup’s winter break will be determined by who is and isn’t available for a Rangers squad which continues to be decimated by injury.
The best thing is that – in theory – these two weeks should’ve edged every single one of those on the club’s treatment table closer to a first-team return.
Rangers hope to sooth injury pain during international break
John Souttar, Filip Helander and Ben Davies have been scarcely seen this season, and whilst the two former names continue to edge slowly back to fitness, £4m summer signing Ben Davies must surely be ready to stake a first-team claim from here.
Ianis Hagi might not be able to contribute until after the tournament in Qatar, but in his position Alex Lowry, his season crippled by the bitter Ally Love, is inching back into the squad.
Tom Lawrence – one of the biggest success stories of the summer so far – is also primed for a return in the coming matches.
Kemar Roofe – a potent forward who has unfortunately spent more time injured than on the pitch at Ibrox – is also surely getting to a point where he can look to be involved.
These are options that up until now have been sorely lacking and if the results just before the international break provided any hope for Rangers, the return of these players will see it doubled.
