Rangers manager Michael Beale has revealed that Tom Lawrence looks to be ahead of his initial injury prognosis as he talks up the Welshman’s importance to the Ibrox side.
The Gers support have only seen the talented former Derby County captain in their colours nine times, with a devastating early-season injury ruling him out for the bulk of the campaign. But comments in the Herald have come at the right time.
Early on, Rangers fans saw a player who could be a potential difference maker with the former Manchester United and youth international adding real quality at the top end of the park.
But an injury at the end of August last year dealt Tom Lawrence a massive blow at the start of his Rangers career, with a later update revealing the 29-year-old was not expected back until late pre-season.
Now, Michael Beale has revealed that Lawrence is set to return from injury a little earlier than initially thought, with the Welshman set to return to training halfway through next season’s preparations.
“Tom started the season ever so well. He was important in the PSV games for example,” said Michael Beale.
“And then he got a horrific injury. He was on his way back from that and had some complications from that.
“I expect him to be back probably a couple of weeks into pre-season. Either at the same time as everybody else or a couple of weeks behind. But having said that he needs to make up maybe eight or 10 months.
“So we need to clean that up for sure. We need to have our strongest, oldest, most experienced players available more often next year, playing with a bit more consistency and a slightly tighter squad.
“And then we will see where it takes us. The challenges will still be the same, the pressures and the expectations are maybe going to be a little bit higher. It is an exciting time because it’s a time of change and I’m going into it with real optimism.”
Tom Lawrence injury boost will have Rangers optimistic
This will have Rangers fans hopeful that Lawrence can return from injury in time for the Champions League qualifiers, which are looming large over Ibrox.
The Rangers boss has also claimed that the attacking midfielder will be a “really important” player for the club next season, as he lamented the impact the player’s absence has had on this campaign.
“Tom will be a really important player for us,” said Beale. “He is a player I haven’t had and Gio (van Bronckhorst) didn’t have for a long period either. He has been lost.
“It’s been like that. (Filip) Helander was so important to us, (Kemar) Roofe was so important to us. Roofe has played twice since I came back and scored in both games. He’s just not been available.
“We lost key players in my opinion, key athleticism in (Joe) Aribo, (Calvin) Bassey and (Nathan) Patterson. For good money, but we lost key players.
“(Leon) Balogun was a big influence, (Jermain) Defoe was a big influence, Helander, Roofe. We brought Lawrence in to be a big influence.
“He came in as an important signing and experienced member of the squad. He didn’t come in to be a player for the future, he came to be a ‘now’ player.”
It’s not only Lawrence that Rangers have sorely missed through injury in a disappointing season, with the attacking midfielder a big absence alongside the likes of Roofe.
