Philippe Clement’s midfield is hanging by a thread and it isn’t the only area where Rangers could do with bodies returning to full health.
Danilo was the latest to be ruled out along with Tom Lawrence with both key players out for the long rather than the short-term.
The Europa League squad is already restricted but who could manager Philippe Clement maybe see back in his Rangers squad before the weekend or for the huge league fixtures on the horizon.
When will Philippe Clement get Rangers absentee relief
First of all, who is out just now?
The defence, for once, is in good shape and the boss can go with his preferred line-up other than not having Ridvan Yilmaz and Leon Balogun for the trip to Spain.
In midfield, the list and players not available is a lengthy one:
Ryan Jack, Nicolas Raskin, Tom Lawrence, Jose Cifuentes, Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell, none of whom are capable of giving John Lundstram a hand against Real Betis.
Cantwell has been excused from the trip to Spain for personal reasons.
The forward line is slightly better but the task that Philippe Clement has here is deciding who is sharp enough to do a job for Rangers or does he still go with who is fully fit?
Rabbi Matondo is increasing his minutes and got 45 minutes at the weekend and Kemar Roofe has played the last 20 minutes or so recently too.
What this means with Danilo and Scott Wright out, is that the choice is pretty much between Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Ross McCausland.
The team doesn’t quite pick itself, but it’s not far away.
Clement revealed that Jack could be back playing at Ibrox soon but Betis has come too quickly and Raskin is expected back before the winter break too but hasn’t yet returned to full training,
Tom Lawrence is out until after the winter break, as is Danilo.
Dowell has been training and might finally see some game time domestically and Cifuentes is out for two games due to suspension but is available to face Betis.
We need a more robust squad and it must do Philippe Clement’s head in having to deal with so many absentees in his Rangers squad, maybe one day, he’ll get to pick his best XI but that day won’t be for some time yet.
