Rangers have been handed a major boost ahead of the club’s Scottish Premiership opener with Aberdeen this weekend after Dons striker Sam Cosgrove was ruled out with injury.
The Pittodrie talisman is a major part of how Aberdeen play and will be ruled out for up to four months with a knee injury in what is a serious blow to Derek McInnes’ side.
The Scottish Sun are reporting that the Cosgrove, 23, picked up the injury in a friendly against Hibs last week.
Cosgrove’s injury also comes after the Dons knocked back a £2.7m move from French club Guingamp such is the importance of the player to their chances.
Cosgrove is the leading figure for the Aberdeen side and scored an impressive 23 goals in 37 appearances last season.
The big striker’s physical presence is a regular nuisance for Rangers and he has been involved in numerous off the ball scuffles and robust challenges in the past.
His lack of presence at the tip of the Aberdeen attack will be very evident at the weekend with the northeast club also potentially without backup striker Curtis Main.
Main underwent surgery in June and it is not clear if he will be fit to play this weekend.
Niall McGinn is also capable of playing as a striker but does not offer the same physical presence Cosgrove or Main do.
The Dons may well have to call on 21-year-old striker Bruce Anderson – who spent part of 2019 at Dunfermline Athletic – to lead the line on Saturday.
Rangers are set to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie at 12:30pm this Saturday (01/08/20) as the Scottish Premiership season gets underway.