There was plenty of pain to take from Rangers’ morale-sapping hammering at the hands of Celtic last weekend.
Frustrations within the Gers support have often bubbled over and may even result in the club’s captain James Tavernier moving on amid vehement public criticism.
Philippe Clement insists it’s not as bad as it looks and that his team will improve, whilst apathetic Rangers fans who’ve seen this story before have already begun writing a sorry ending.
One incident in the 3-0 drubbing also stands out to Rangers fans for a number of reasons, with nervous winger Rabbi Matondo going off injured in the first half of proceedings.
Some might’ve felt the Welsh winger was ducking out, whilst Clement pointed to issues with a hamstring, but now the attacker’s international absence has raised fears about a more serious problem.
Rabbi Matondo injury fears after Celtic drubbing
Rabbi Matondo is a player of undoubted talent but it’s the mental battle which the ex-Schalke winger regularly appears to lose.
Consistent injury problems also haven’t helped.
But as misplaced optimism rose in the Rangers ranks heading into the Old Firm cauldron at Celtic Park, Matondo was one of several who lost his head and lost it early.
Caught jogging back as Alistair Johnston burst a lung to get a ball in across the box for Daizen Maeda to kickstart the hammering, Matondo’s afternoon went from bad to worse minutes later.
We’ve all seen it before.
A player is toiling in the Old Firm derby and suddenly pulls up with a mystery injury as the match begins to envelop him.
Seven minutes before half-time Rabbi Matondo was replaced by Ross McCausland and after the match Clement was coy on any injury issue.
But after being recalled to the Welsh international fold, Matondo’s absence from the nation’s last two games has fears rising over yet another longer-term issue.
It might also explain why the ex-Manchester City youth was found wanting in an athletic foot race at Celtic Park.
Rangers winger misses Wales double-header
Rabbi Matondo was not involved in Wales’ opening UEFA Nations League B Group 4 games despite being called up to Craig Bellamy’s squad.
Missing the 0-0 draw to Turkey in Cardiff, Matondo was also missing as Wales recorded an impressive 2-1 victory away to Montenegro.
Rangers fans will await an update on the winger whose time at Ibrox has been badly impacted by a string of injury problems.
Matondo might’ve also left Rangers in the summer amid interest from the English Championship but the Ibrox side refused to sanction a loan exit.
Philippe Clement has revamped the Rangers medical department in an attempt to curb what has been seasons of injury issues at the club.
So far the approach has had a mixed impact with Rangers still missing the likes of Ridvan Yilmaz, Nicolas Raskin, Oscar Cortes and Matondo from the club’s squad.
There also doubts surrounding the fitness of Brazilian striker Danilo, who alongside Matondo has been left out of the club’s Europa League squad this season.
It’s led to some supporters believing both players will be out for the foreseeable future and raised questions about the club’s habit of signing injury prone footballers not built for the rigours of Rangers’ extensive fixture list or for Scottish football.
Rabbi Matondo signed on a £2.5m deal from Schalke 04 in 2022 and has gone on to make 65 appearances for Rangers, scoring eight goals.
