Injuries have become so commonplace at Rangers over the last few seasons that news of another problem are usually met with a shrug of the shoulders.
Especially when it’s a player who fans are so used to seeing laid up on the treatment table.
Brazilian striker Danilo is the latest name who has been struck by the Ibrox injury curse, the 25-year-old hitman back on the treatment table after a debut season of pain.
Whilst fans are awaiting an update from Philippe Clement on the forward, images of the striker in a brace at Glasgow Airport have been met with a similar level of indifference.
Rangers missed the £6m striker for the bulk of last season too due to a combination of a brutal facial fracture and an even more brutal knee injury.
But as Rangers brace for Danilo to be sidelined once again, a highly-rated young talent waits in the wings.
Hamza Igamane gives Rangers ‘food for thought’
Whilst Rangers’ brutal hammering at the hands of Celtic wasn’t much of a surprise, the introduction of Hamza Igamane to the Ibrox fold certainly was.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement had previously insisted that the club would take their time introducing the kid to the team such was his place physically and mentally.
Why then Igamane was tossed onto the park in the heat of the Old Firm battle at Celtic Park certainly raised some eyebrows.
But the impressive cameo is a sign that Rangers are impressed with Igamane’s development and that the striker is ready to be more involved in the first team.
Following the injury to Danilo, and the continuing scrutiny on the more robust Cyriel Dessers, ex-Celtic and Hibs midfielder Scott Allan reckons opportunity may well be about to knock.
“After the Celtic game the manager will now know what his strongest team is,” Allan told the Scottish Sun. “We’re into September now, so he should.
“He’ll have seen a lot in the Old Firm game about what players he thinks will be ready for Tannadice.
“Some new players have come into the fold, and I actually thought Hamza Igamane looked decent when he came on against Celtic, he put himself about.
“So there’s food for thought with Danilo injured again, even though Cyriel Dessers is the guy who’s scored the goals.
“But first and foremost they need to get some consistency in team selection, who the ones are he thinks are going to do a job, and try and put a run together.”
Rangers summer signing set to be handed striker chance
Rangers spent £1.7m to bring Hamza Igamane to Ibrox this summer.
Given the much talked about budget constraints at the club, that’s a not inconsiderable fee to be forking out for one player.
Despite this, Rangers fans had been warned that the club will be taking their time to introduce Igamane to the team with the clash at Celtic Park technically the striker’s Gers debut.
Let’s hope he has better matches to come.
With Danilo sidelined for an as of yet undetermined length of time, and with major doubts surrounding the Brazilian’s robustness medium to long term as a result, Rangers’ hand with Igamane may well have been forced.
Still only 21-year-old, the stage is set for the young Moroccan to go and make an impact at Rangers and we suspect he might get some minutes at Tannadice this weekend.
