The Injury Crisis That Keeps Getting Worse
Just when Derek McInnes thought things couldn’t get any worse, Rangers have been hit by yet another devastating injury blow.
The Ibrox boss, who is still searching for his first competitive win after three matches without victory, has confirmed that Youssef Chermiti will be sidelined for a “significant period of time” after suffering a serious ACL injury. The Portuguese striker was stretchered off in the first half of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox and was later seen leaving the stadium in a knee brace and protective boot.
And Chermiti isn’t the only one. Left-back Tuur Rommens has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a groin strain picked up in the same match, joining fellow defender Ben Godfrey on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Rangers have also sold midfielder Mohamed Diomande to Turkish club Coram.
McInnes has admitted the club is “playing with fire” with the lack of available players. With a crucial Europa League showdown against Jagiellonia Bialystok tonight,where Rangers must overturn a 2-1 deficit to keep their European hopes alive,the timing could not be worse.
Celtic Watching Closely
And who will be watching most closely? Celtic.
The Parkhead club, who are already five points clear of their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership, will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a depleted Rangers side in the upcoming Old Firm derby.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has already warned Rangers that cutting Celtic’s ticket allocation could be their downfall, and with key Gers players dropping like flies, the Hoops will fancy their chances of inflicting even more misery on their city rivals.
Celtic have their own injury concerns, with Kieran Tierney still a doubt with a hip injury, but the crisis at Ibrox is on a completely different scale.
What This Means for Rangers
Chermiti’s injury is a hammer blow for McInnes on multiple levels.
The 22-year-old had quickly established himself as a central figure in Rangers’ attack, making the injury particularly devastating. Just hours before Sunday’s match, Rangers had rejected a massive £22 million bid from Galatasaray for the Portuguese forward—a decision that now looks even more significant.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh made it clear the club was “not under pressure to sell”, but with Chermiti now sidelined long-term, the club may be forced into the transfer market to find a replacement.
McInnes is already seeking a new striker, and has confirmed Rangers are being “proactive” in their search. The club has already made nine summer signings, with at least three to five more expected before the window closes.
The Europa League Showdown
Tonight’s Europa League clash against Jagiellonia Bialystok at Ibrox has taken on even greater significance.
Rangers trail 2-1 from the first leg in Poland, and with their squad decimated by injuries, McInnes faces a tactical nightmare. The manager has urged his side to play with “more risk”, admitting: “We could all be doing with a win”.
“The tie’s finely poised. It goes without saying how important it is for us to try and crank it up,” McInnes said. “We want the pressure to be on the opposition not ourselves.”
But with Chermiti, Rommens and Godfrey all unavailable, and Diomande sold, Rangers’ squad depth is being tested to breaking point.
The Bigger Picture
Rangers’ injury crisis is a disaster for McInnes at the worst possible time.
The manager is yet to win a competitive match. Celtic are already pulling away at the top of the table. European qualification hangs in the balance. And now his squad is falling apart.
The message from Ibrox is clear: Rangers are in crisis. And Celtic are ready to pounce.
