As Celtic suffer yet another injury this season, Rangers need no reminder of the massive impact they can have on a campaign.
Last season’s initially positive summer transfer business was derailed by a series of injury problems which just kept getting worse and never relented.
Even now, Rangers are still counting the cost of the regular absences of players like John Souttar, Tom Lawrence and Kemar Roofe.
But as Celtic’s bloated squad suffer yet another blow, the Ibrox side must find something extra in their legs and ensure the Scottish Premiership pressure remains exhaustive.
Celtic suffer injury blow
With both teams heading into a hectic schedule over the next month or so, Rangers and Celtic will need as many options as they can get.
But as Luis Palma is injured on Honduras international duty, Celtic’s mounting list of absentees comes as a time when Rangers injury issues – whisper it quietly – look like they’re relenting.
Whilst the scale of Palma’s problem is not yet known, the once Rangers-linked winger impressing so far this season, it’s adding to an injury headache for Brendan Rodgers.
Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Liel Abada are already out with long-term problems whilst Kyogo Furuhashi suffered a head knock against Aberdeen.
Rangers players returning
Rangers, meanwhile, are waiting on John Souttar, Nicolas Raskin and Rabbi Matondo to return to their full complement as Philippe Clement’s magic wand waves in Govan.
With eight points and a game in hand separating Rangers and Celtic, by the time January gets round the Ibrox side have a clear target.
Lift the League Cup, qualify for Europe after Christmas, and stay within eyeshot of the Scottish Premiership crown.
With Celtic limping to January on current form, the under-fire Rangers squad have got to find something extra to maintain the pressure.
We don’t really know how this Celtic side are primed to react if Rangers can find a relentlessness that’s been long-missing in Govan.
