Philippe Clement will be hoping that a host of injured Rangers players can return to action in the coming days but he wouldn’t have wanted Jose Cifuentes to join that list.
The Ecuador international missed his country’s game with Colombia on Tuesday night having started against Bolivia at the weekend.
It became clear why he was absent when Studio Futbol posted a picture on X, which could be bad news for the new Rangers manager, with Jose Cifuentes seen with heavy strapping on his left knee.
Rangers boss Clement might have to cope without Jose Cifuentes
Trying to turn a negative into a positive, if it was anything sinister he would have a heavier brace like the one Todd Cantwell was seen with after the last Old Firm derby.
As it is, the type of tape being used looks more like a therapeutic kinesio-tape rather than the sort of strapping that is used to stabilise a joint.
Also, if it was that bad, he wouldn’t want to be standing as he is in the first image with his legs crossed over.
Against St Mirren before the international break, Rangers had Jose Cifuentes playing in a more advanced position and looked much more like the player we all thought we were getting.
He linked play with the full-backs to help us get behind the St Mirren defence, was involved in the first goal and nearly scored himself but for an excellent defensive block.
Rangers will need to be much more attacking if better chances are to be created and Jose Cifuentes has the right mindset if he is given license to get forward.
Hopefully, his time away with Ecuador doesn’t see him missing games for Rangers.
