Philippe Clement is as honest as managers come, since joining Rangers he has engaged with the media and met questions with a straight bat.
Obviously, the Gers boss hasn’t divulged things like transfer targets or specific details about members of his squad that might be injured, but he has been an engaging figure with the press.
It has been clear for some time that Philippe Clement has been frustrated at thet number of players who have been missing through injury, however, on this occasion, it isn’t the Rangers manager providing the update.
Philippe Clement give Rangers favour by international boss
Of the six players from the first-team squad who were called up for international duty, two have already returned to Auchenhowie for treatment.
Ridvan Yilmaz lasted 30 minutes into his return for Turkey before suffering what has been reported as a thigh injury, as yet, we don’t know how long he will be missing for.
The other, is Ross McCausland, the winger clearly hasn’t been right since he was the subject of a controversial tackle against Motherwell.
A tackle that didn’t even see Rangers awarded a free-kick.
No wonder Scottish football is still miles behind the continent.
How long will McCausland be out for?
Speaking ahead of his country’s clash with Scotland at Hampden, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has explained exactly why the 20-year old has been sent home:
“I don’t think it is particularly serious. It is a little bit complex from the understanding of the medical team. I think he was optimistic but he has played with pain since he had the initial challenge and injury.
“I spoke to (Rangers manager) Philippe Clement and they had him on the bench against Benfica but I don’t think realistically they intended to use him in that situation.
“He has got a lot to play for between now and the end of the season. We are conscious of that so we don’t want to put him in a situation where we are bringing him off the bench and he is uncomfortable in that way.”
As O’Neill says, McCausland has played and been on the bench but Clement has said he wasn’t capable of playing from the start.
Hopefully, the extra two weeks off has given him the necessary time to recover fully ahead of what is going to be a packed fixture schedule.
The 20-year old might not be first choice for the rest of the season but, with injuries to several forwards already, he will still be called upon to play a supporting role.
It has been a fairy tale season for the youngster so far and he will be looking to see his story finish with a happy ending when the campaign is over.
