Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has been delivered another injury blow with the news that Joe Aribo is likely to miss the next three games before the international break.
Aribo was forced off in last night’s 1-0 win over Livingston with a nasty head wound after being elbowed by Ricky Lamie and Gerrard admitted that he would be “very surprised” if Aribo was to feature again before the clash with Hearts on October 20th.
The Gers boss is confident the Nigerian international will “bounce back” and is delighted with the way the 23-year-old has settled in Glasgow.
“I will be very surprised if we see Aribo play before the International break,” Gerrard said, as quoted by the club’s official Twitter account.
“It is his first time out of London and he has settled very well. This will be a setback but knowing him he will bounce back, he didn’t even want to come off yesterday which shows his mentality.”
Aribo is due to go away with the Nigerian national team in the upcoming break to face Brazil in Singapore but that could now be in doubt.
With a number of other first-team players sidelines, Aribo’s injury comes at a difficult time for the Gers with massive clashes against Aberdeen and Young Boys before they face Hamilton in the final game before the international break.
There will be plenty of options for Gerrard to choose from to replace Aribo, however, with Glen Kamara and Andy King the obvious choices to come into the Rangers starting XI over the next few games.