Rangers striker Danilo hasn’t been able to catch a break since a £6m move from Feyenoord last summer.
The Gers broke the bank to bring the Brazilian hitman to Ibrox but the striker has since suffered three major injuries which have limited the hitman to minimal appearances.
First a facial fracture suffered during a goalscoring collision against St Johnstone saw the masked Danilo given an abrupt welcome to Scottish football.
The striker then suffered a devastating knee injury in December which ruled the ex-Ajax forward – who is naturalised for the Dutch national team – out until the start of this season.
But just as Danilo was taking steps back to his best, even scoring in the 6-0 romp over Ross County, the hitman was once again pegged back.
This latest knee injury was viewed as being so bad that Danilo was excluded from Rangers’ Europa League squad.
Now, Philippe Clement is expecting the striker back in training but can the samba star convince Rangers supporters that he has what it takes to fire them to glory this season?
Danilo set to return to Auchenhowie training
Philippe Clement has confirmed that he expects to see Danilo back in first-team training when the club returns from the international break.
The Rangers manager was speaking as he confirmed that a training ground injury to Oscar Cortes is set to keep the winger out for longer term.
But along with Ridvan Yilmaz – who hasn’t been seen since the Champions League defeat to Dynamo Kyiv – Danilo is ’expected’ to make an Auchenhowie return in the next fortnight.
“I expect in training to have Danilo and Ridvan (Yilmaz) maybe,” said Clement.
Danilo had made two appearances for Rangers this season before this latest knee injury ruled the striker out since the start of September.
The return of Danilo will be met with trepidation but with Rangers’ frontline increasingly inconsistent, the club is in dire need of a reliable finisher at the top end of the pitch.
Rangers need greater returns from £6m striker
Rangers’ striking options continue to come in for criticism this season.
Cyriel Dessers started the campaign brightly and has scored seven goals already this season, but is without a strike in his last four matches.
As a result Dessers has been snubbed by the Nigeria national team and cut a frustrated figure when he was subbed off against St Johnstone at Ibrox.
Rangers also have promising Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane in their ranks but the 21-year-old is yet to hit the back of the net in Ibrox colours.
Throw in the club’s inconsistent returns from out wide and suddenly Rangers have a real issue in terms of reliable goalscoring at the top end of the pitch.
With Danilo costing £6m there is an underlying pressure there for the unlucky hitman to hit the ground running and start repaying the transfer fee at Rangers.
But with the club wary of the striker’s ongoing injury problems, it remains unclear exactly when the hitman is going to be a position to deliver at Ibrox.
Let’s hope the October international break signals the end of Danilo’s injury hell with Rangers and the striker starts delivering soon.
