The last few years at Rangers Football Club have been dominated by injury problems which have stretched the length and breadth of Edmiston Road.
The Gers continue to battle a series of high profile issues although there is light at the end of the tunnel as Philippe Clement braces to add back much needed firepower to his squad.
But as Rangers look to rebuild after years of long-term problems, much of the solution is about letting go as it is about working with those still at the club.
Now, one former Rangers defender who had his fair share of injury problems at Ibrox is set to return to Scotland 24 months after he last played for the Gers.
Filip Helander set to return to Scotland
Filip Helander stands as one of the most stinging examples of injury problems at Rangers in recent seasons.
Signed on a £3.5m deal from Serie A Bologna in 2019, the Swedish international was a classy, technical defender and probably the best natural centre-back we’ve had at the club in the post-2012 era.
But injury problems soon took hold for Helander, who played a key role in the title-winning season of 20/21 but who played only 11 games the following season and 0 the campaign after that.
After Helander’s release from Rangers in the summer of 2023, the Gers defender signed with Danish club OB and even wound up earning a recall to the Swedish national team.
Now signing with Omonia Nicosia, the 31-year-old is determined to resurrect his career with the Cypriot side and helped the club to Europa Conference League qualification this season.
As part of that, the big Swede is coming back to Scotland and is in line to play his first game in the country since playing 45 minutes for Rangers in a 4-0 win over St Mirren in October 2022.
Ex-Rangers star in Europa Conference League contention
That’s because Omonia have drawn Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts in the Europa Conference League this season.
The Cypriots are set to face the Scottish outfit in Edinburgh at Tynecastle on Thursday 24th October with the kick off set for 17:45.
Omonia have used Filip Helander carefully so far this season, the centre-back making five starts and six appearances in total.
Playing the entire game in the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Enosis Neon Paralimniou on domestic duties, Helander played twice in Europa Conference League qualifying.
The centre-back was also an unused substitute in Omonia’s opening day 4-0 win over Vikingur, meaning we’re not sure if the big Swede will start at Tynecastle.
But should he get his chance, Helander will be hoping to make an impression with the Cypriot team as the ex-Malmo star makes his return to Scotland.
