The mystery around the absence of Kieran Dowell from Rangers’ warm weather training camp in Spain continues after an injury update from Philippe Clement.
Rangers fans had noticed that the 25-year-old – who joined in the summer from Norwich City – was nowhere to be seen in the club’s coverage of the La Manga trip.
Also missing from the friendly clash with Hertha Berlin at the weekend – along with seven other notable absentees – the Rangers manager has been quizzed on the squad’s current injury status.
But there was no mention of Kieran Dowell in the update as mystery continues to surround the status of the Rangers midfielder.
Philippe Clement provides injury update
Speaking after the friendly with Hertha, Philippe Clement provided an update on injuries in the Rangers squad with there being good news on the Borna Barisic, Tom Lawrence, and Ryan Jack fronts.
But with striker pair Danilo and Kemar Roofe out for at least the next two months, there was no mention of Kieran Dowell whose Rangers absence continues to perplex supporters.
“Danilo and Kemar (Roofe) are not here so that’s clear it’s not for the next couple of weeks,” said Clement. “Otherwise they would be here.
“Ryan (Jack) has started to train again but ok he has a history with these injuries so we need to build up calmly.
Asked on whether or not Danilo or Kemar Roofe would play again this season, Clement said: “This season? The season is still a long way to go eh? So ask me this question in two or three months, so that’s a little bit early.”
Later touching on Borna Barisic and Tom Lawrence, Clement said: “You see also Borna (Barisic), Ryan (Jack), Tom (Lawrence), they were not involved in the game (v Hertha Berlin).
“So they had a separate training. They are also coming back out of injury so we’re not with the full squad ready for the moment.
“We know, but we’re going to work hard the next couple of weeks to get more and more players available.”
Kieran Dowell missing from Rangers training camp
Rangers fans will notice the absence of Kieran Dowell from this update but the ex-Norwich City midfielder isn’t the only recent absentee Philippe Clement failed to touch on.
Centre-back Ben Davies – for whom the jury remains very much out at Ibrox – also slipped the mind of Philippe Clement in his latest injury update.
But where the former Liverpool defender’s situation differs from Kieran Dowell is in a photo of the club’s squad at the Spanish training camp which was uploaded to social media.
Ben Davies is visible in the snap whilst Kieran Dowell is nowhere to be seen.
The midfielder – who signed a three-year deal after leaving Norwich City in the summer – is probably one of the club’s sellable assets given his experience in the Premier League and Championship.
Whilst everything surrounding Dowell is speculation at present, the midfielder has struggled to get minutes under Philippe Clement until injury forced the Belgian’s hand towards the end of the year.
Dowell has previously touched on the competition at Ibrox, and with the likes of Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack and Jose Cifuentes returning perhaps the club and player are musing over an exit.
As Rangers look to bolster more pressing areas of their squad this winter, perhaps any transfer fee received and wages freed up by Dowell’s exit could be used to reinforce the attack.
Kieran Dowell has made 11 appearances for Rangers, scoring two goals, with the midfielder’s season interrupted by an injury sustained back in August.
