New Rangers manager Philippe Clement faces a handful of injury concerns for his first game at Ibrox against Hibernian with Todd Cantwell among the Gers stars with issues.
The Belgian will oversee his first fixture as Michael Beale’s successor on Saturday when Hibs travel to Glasgow. Rangers have appointed Clement as the Gers’ 19th manager to date after an underwhelming Premiership season so far. Beale won five of his eight games this season.
Clement has landed some injury boosts ahead of Rangers hosting Hibernian but will remain without a clutch of Gers players. He will hope any ongoing fitness concerns do not prevent a promising start to his tenure at Ibrox. He has only started a managerial job with a loss once.
Rangers injury latest ahead of facing Hibernian
Rangers will come out of the international break at home to Hibernian hoping to ease their seven-point deficit atop the Premiership table. The Gers fired Beale with the club second in the standings. Clement adopted a side that has scored 13 and conceded five goals this term.
The returns to fitness of a few of the Rangers players recovering from injury in recent weeks should help Clement against Hibernian. So, with that in mind, here is their current situation.
Todd Cantwell injury latest
Clement confirmed ahead of his first game as Rangers’ manager that Cantwell will return to action after a knee injury. The 25-year-old suffered the issue in September from a challenge in the final stages of the Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic. It kept Cantwell out of eight games.
Beale initially thought Cantwell had only taken a knock. But the injury proved to be a more complicated issue and kept him out for six weeks. Now, Cantwell will return from his injury for Clement’s debut in charge as Rangers host Hibernian. Yet he is unlikely to play the full 90.
“Todd Cantwell will be back,” Clement stated, as quoted by the Glasgow Times. “Cantwell is increasing his workload following the injury, so won’t play the 90.”
Expected return: Hibernian (October 21)
Ryan Jack injury latest
Clement has confirmed that Ryan Jack will return from his injury when Rangers play host to Hibernian after the international break. The 31-year-old took a knock in the Gers’ 3-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen which also kept him from Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Spain.
Steve Clarke still called Jack up to play with Scotland despite him sitting out Rangers’ games against Aris Limassol and St Mirren. The 15-cap Tartan Army midfielder ultimately withdrew from their camp. But Jack is now in contention for minutes when Rangers take on Hibernian.
“Jack will be back but not for the full 90,” Clement stated. “I always work well together with medical staff. I want to know and discuss all the details and work with the players physically to be ready for the games. I want to create the strongest and physical team in the league.”
Expected return: Hibernian (October 21)
Danilo injury latest
Rangers have been without Danilo for their last six games after the striker suffered an injury away to St Johnstone. The Brazilian fractured his cheekbone at McDiarmid Park and did not continue after the 20th minute. It was only his fourth start of the season so far for the Gers.
Danilo boasted three goals through his 10 appearances under Beale and Clement expects to need his attacking threat against Hibernian. The Rangers boss confirmed ahead of Hibs’ visit to Ibrox that the 24-year-old was in contention to make his return after five weeks sidelined.
“Danilo is adapting, it is his first moments training with a mask,” Clement said, via quotes by the Glasgow Times, ahead of Rangers facing Hibs. “We will likely need him for the weekend.”
Expected return: Hibernian (October 21)
Rabbi Matondo injury latest
Clement admitted that Rabbi Matondo remained sidelined with an injury ahead of Rangers hosting Hibernian. The 23-year-old sustained a knee injury during the first half of the Gers’ 1-0 win over Motherwell in September. The Gers put his initial recovery time at six weeks.
Matondo started Rangers’ Premiership match at home to Motherwell for his ninth game of the season so far. The 11-cap Wales winger had also offered two goals and two assists over his appearances. His haul included one goal and two assists from five Premiership matches.
Expected return: Sparta Prague (November 9)
Tom Lawrence injury latest
Clement confirmed ahead of Rangers hosting Hibernian that Tom Lawrence remained out of action with an injury. The 29-year-old has not featured since the Gers beat Real Betis in the Europa League in September. He suffered a knock one hour into the UEFA affair in Glasgow.
Rangers initially thought Lawrence was suffering from cramp but scans revealed the injury to be more serious. It came as a cruel blow for the Wales international, who had missed almost a year after suffering an Achilles tendon injury. Lawrence returned to play in just four games.
Expected return: Unclear
Jose Cifuentes injury latest
Rangers boss Clement stated that Jose Cifuentes was sidelined due to an injury ahead of the visit of Hibernian. The 24-year-old sustained a knee injury whilst representing Ecuador over the October international break. He faced Bolivia but missed their 0-0 draw with Colombia.
Cifuentes earned his 18th cap with Ecuador in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia. But the knee injury deprived him of minutes against Colombia for Cifuentes’ first problem as a Rangers player. He had featured in 12 matches since joining the Gers from LAFC in August.
Expected return: Unclear
