As Michael Beale prepares to kickstart his stint as Rangers manager, the club are to be boosted by the return of five key first-team players from injury in the weeks ahead.
The Gers were decimated by injury in the first half of the season with several top stars out of the first-team at varying points of the season and the club’s recruitment coming under the microscope.
First choice centre-backs Filip Helander, Connor Goldson, John Souttar and Ben Davies have all been out for substantial periods of the season, whilst in midfield Ianis Hagi is yet to kick a ball.
Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara have also missed periods of the season – even if they’re back fit now – with the absences of Tom Lawrence and Alex Lowry also limiting the club’s creative options.
Kemar Roofe, a striker who has spent more time on the treatment table than the pitch over the last period, has also been posted missing all season long, save for a cameo against Dundee.
Add to this issues with Ridvan Yilmaz, Fashion Sakala and Alfredo Morelos and the Ibrox dressing room has at time looked more like an emergency room this season.
But as Rangers edge several players back to fitness, there are five players in particular who can get the club back firing in the second half of the season.
The five key first teamers Rangers need back from injury ASAP
Firstly, it is imperative Rangers get Connor Goldson back on the pitch ASAP whilst £4m summer signing from Liverpool Ben Davies is another experienced campaigner at the back.
Rangers manager Michael Beale has also namedropped creative pair Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence, whilst getting Kemar Roofe firing is another important target of the next few months.
All five are vital first team performers and we suspect we’ll see a different Rangers with these names in the team.
“Can we get Kemar Roofe back, because that’s two fantastic strikers (alongside Alfredo Morelos) we’ve not had firing,” said Beale.
“In the coming months we’ll have Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence back so all of a sudden we become a much stronger squad and a much stronger Rangers. I really forward to the day when all those guys are all fit and in front of me.”
So do we Michael, so do we.
Meanwhile, the Rangers boss has also been talking about the club’s transfer budget this winter.
