To think, Philippe Clement had done everything in his power to prevent another injury to Rangers’ already John Souttar-deprived backline ahead of the Boxing Day trip to St Mirren.
Leon Balogun, stepping in for the club’s number five, enjoyed a rest as Clement’s side defeated Dundee at Ibrox in their final Scottish Premiership fixture before Christmas.
The Rangers boss felt it was ‘impossible’ to hand 36-year-old Balogun yet another start, introducing the versatile Dujon Sterling in his place.
Yet, as the Premiership’s distant second-placed side conceded in stoppage time away to Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren, Balogun’s 19th minute departure quite literally added insult to injury.
All of Clement’s caution, it seems, counted for nothing. And while the extent of Balogun’s problem is yet to become clear, the veteran defender is certainly now a doubt for the Old Firm derby clash with Celtic on January 2nd, let alone Sunday’s trip to Motherwell.
Philippe Clement reacts to Leon Balogun injury after Rangers loss at St Mirren
“Like I said before the game, you make a rotation to avoid these things. We cannot make more rotations than we did the last couple of weeks,” Clement protests, the Rangers boss bemoaning his luck in his post-match press conference.
“I don’t know what the situation will be with Leon. But it’s never a good sign if a player comes off in the first-half. Also, as a team, it’s never good.
“I don’t know [how serious Balogun’s injury is] yet, to be honest. I didn’t have time to speak about that. I had other things to speak about in half-time and after the game also.
“So, I didn’t ask that one because I know the doctor will say he needs to make an assessment [on Friday]. So we will focus on that tomorrow. Now, we have to focus on changing this game, what the team did in the second-half.”
The German-born Nigerian will turn 37 next summer, shortly after his Rangers contract is due to expire.
Balogun’s performances during Souttar’s recent absence suggests that he could still have a role to play at Ibrox even beyond the current campaign, though much will depend on how long the former Wigan Athletic ace will be stuck on the sidelines, and how he quickly he gets up to speed again following his return.
Clement admitted that John Souttar faces another few weeks out of action prior to that Dundee clash. Now, ahead of the weekend’s trip to Fir Park, Robin Propper is Rangers’ only fit, senior and natural central defender.
Of course, Clement can call upon 20-year-old Leon King.
The Scotland Under 21 international was left out of the squad both against Dundee and St Mirren, however, with a departure looking likely heading into 2025.
Clement ‘so angry’ as Connor Barron and Nedim Bajrami cop manager’s fury
By his own admission, meanwhile, Clement was ‘so angry’ about the nature of Rangers’ performance in Paisley. The visitors, he felt, lacked the aggression or the desire up against a well-drilled, disciplined St Mirren outfit who spent most of the afternoon bullying, out-pacing and out-muscling their opposition.
“We lost the game [in the first-half]. That’s why I was so angry at half-time,” Clement fumes. “We played far below our level in every sense. On the ball, without the ball, in the duels, in movements, in everything.
“I made two changes [Connor Barron and Nedim Bajrami were hauled off at the break]. It’s not about the two guys, it was the whole team.
“I could have made eight or nine changes!”
