Rangers manager Philippe Clement could certainly do with some of the club’s injured players coming back into the squad.
The Gers need all the help they can get as the pressure rises on the club’s new-look squad after a stuttering and unconvincing start to the season.
As the club prepares to face Romanian side FCSB in the Europa League, Clement has been facing the music as the fall-out around the 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock continues.
And the Belgian manager has some positive news surrounding some members of the Ibrox team with two of Rangers’ long-term absentees edging closer to fitness.
Danilo still a ‘long way’ from Rangers first-team
Rangers fans would’ve been excited about the reappearance of Danilo on the scene for the club’s B Team this week.
Danilo started, scored and played 60 minutes as the Brazilian helped lead the young Gers to an impressive 4-1 victory over Stenhousemuir.
With Philippe Clement in attendance, there were several players who hoped to catch a glimpse of the Belgian manager’s eye.
But whilst Danilo’s goalscoring return is certainly promising, Clement has tempered expectations with the Brazilian still a ‘long way’ off contributing.
“I was yesterday at the second team game,” said Clement. “Watching the players, watching the young guys, watching Danilo back scoring a goal.
“Getting back in shape, he still has a long way to go.
“Those are also positive points that for the moment fans don’t see.
“Yes that’s normal because Dani still has a way to go but he’s going to be also important in that way on the thighs we want to achieve the next couple of months.”
Ridvan Yilmaz coming out of ‘serious injury’
There was also some positive news with regards Turkish international left-back Ridvan Yilmaz.
The ex-Besiktas star, 23, has been out ever since being stretchered off the pitch in the Champions League defeat to Dynamo Kyiv in August.
Now back in first-team training, Clement admits the injury was a ‘serious’ one but that the left-back is taking ‘positive’ steps forward in his recovery.
On Ridvan, Clement said: “(Ridvan) is not yet in the selection because Ridvan trained now the second time with the first team but he came out a serious injury.
“It’s too fast for him to put him in a game but he’s in a positive way.“
