Rangers manager Philippe Clement has vowed to eliminate the injury woes that have plagued the club in recent seasons. However, even his so-called ‘magic stick’ is struggling to overcome the lingering effects of years of mismanagement in the squad and transfer budget.
The team’s injury issues date back long before Clement took charge at Ibrox, and unfortunately, they have continued into his time as manager. While there are concerns about players like John Souttar and Tom Lawrence ahead of the match against Aberdeen, the ongoing situation involving one £17.5 million group of players remains a source of confusion for fans.
Ridvan Yilmaz (£5m)
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has confirmed that Ridvan Yilmaz is back in training, although he isn’t yet ready to rejoin the first-team squad. The Turkish international, who signed a £5 million deal from Besiktas in 2022, has struggled with injuries since his arrival. He has been sidelined since suffering a serious injury after mishitting a shot in a Champions League qualifying match against Dynamo Kyiv.
Clement mentioned that while Yilmaz is making positive progress, the club will be cautious in his return to action. He anticipates that the left-back will be included in a matchday squad before the November international break. “Ridvan trained for the second time with the first team but came back from a serious injury. It’s too soon for him to play in a match, but he’s on the right track,” Clement said ahead of the FCSB match.
**Danilo (£6m).
Danilo has been one of Rangers’ most disappointing signings. After the departure of Alfredo Morelos, the club brought in the Brazilian striker from Feyenoord for £6 million, but injuries have marred his 16 months in Glasgow. He has dealt with a facial fracture and two knee injuries, limiting his opportunities in the first team.
With Danilo sidelined, the pressure has increased on Cyriel Dessers as Rangers’ attacking options have been thin over the last two seasons. Recently, Danilo has been scoring for the B team, but Clement emphasized that the club will be cautious with his return. “He still has a long way to go, but he will be important for us this season,” Clement stated. “I watched the B team game, and seeing Danilo score a goal is a positive sign that fans may not fully appreciate yet.”
**Rabbi Matondo (£2.5m).
When Rangers signed Rabbi Matondo in 2022, they believed they had fended off Premier League competition. However, the winger has not played enough since joining due to persistent injuries. A £2.5 million acquisition from FC Schalke, Matondo has struggled to develop due to various setbacks.
When he has been on the pitch, his contributions have been lacking, with evident issues in application, confidence, and responsibility. Matondo has been missing since sustaining a hamstring injury during the Old Firm match against Celtic. Initially given an eight-week recovery prognosis in September, he recently hinted at a return on social media, but expectations should remain low, especially until after the international break. Rangers may regret not allowing him to go on loan to an English Championship club before this injury.
**Oscar Cortes (£4m).
Oscar Cortes exemplifies Rangers’ ongoing injury challenges. The 20-year-old Colombian was brought in to make an immediate impact, but he has struggled due to two significant injuries. The first injury occurred just seven games into his loan last season, which should have raised concerns. Despite this, Rangers secured a £4 million loan-to-buy deal from RC Lens, but on the first day of the new season, Cortes went down injured.
He returned briefly to the first team but suffered another injury during training, leaving him sidelined indefinitely. Rangers have been tight-lipped about his recovery timeline, and Nils Koppen confirmed that they are “looking into” Cortes’s situation, with no return date set for the injury-plagued winger.
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