Injury has plagued Philippe Clement’s Rangers tenure to date and heading into the clash with Dundee, the situation hasn’t completely let up.
Whilst the likes of Ryan Jack, Oscar Cortes and Danilo will be lucky to play again this season, the Ibrox manager was giving an update on three other first team stars.
Ridvan Yilmaz and Mohamed Diomande might be young Rangers players, but they have been sorely missed through injury.
Both are amongst the brightest talents at Ibrox and in a pre-Dundee update, Philippe Clement explained that both are still not ready to return.
The Rangers manager also ruled veteran centre-back Leon Balogun out of the game amid a clamour from some supporters to see the defender replace Connor Goldson.
Rangers injury update on crocked trio
Speaking to journalists ahead of Rangers’ rearranged trip to Dundee, Philippe Clement claimed that Ridvan Yilmaz is getting closer to fitness.
The Rangers manager was also clear that Mohamed Diomande is in line to return for Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts.
Clement then took the opportunity to reflect on the injury situation at Ibrox with the manager at one point having as many as 12 first-teamers out of action.
“Ridvan (Yilmaz) is not returning (v Dundee) and Mohamed (Diomande), I hope to have him back for the cup semi-final but he will not be ready for tomorrow,” explains Clement. “And Leon Balogun was sick the last couple of days so he’s still not totally fit.
“(Ridvan is) closer day by day but yeah, those are the frustrating things of this season also.
“That you have Abda (Sima) going to national team, getting an injury there and being almost three months out and with Ridvan the same thing.
“Not in an amount of time but we lose him already three, four weeks now with a severe injury. So those are frustrating things but it’s about others then to do the job and to take the points like that.
“(Ridvan) will come back (before the end of the season) but it’s difficult for me to say if it’s in a few days or in two weeks. I’m sure it’s not going to be a long, long term anymore. He’s on the pitch now, he’s training individually, he’s taking steps but he’s not training with the squad yet.”
Mohamed Diomande underwent surgery on his hand before the clash with Ross County whilst Ridvan Yilmaz sustained an injury with Turkey during the last international break.
Ridvan Yilmaz & Mohamed Diomande boosts beckon
Following the 3-2 defeat to Ross County in Dingwall, Rangers can certainly use all the help they can get.
That result has potentially huge ramifications in the title race with Celtic and the pressure is on Rangers to bounce back against Dundee.
Beyond that, the Scottish Premiership split beckons and, all going well at Dens Park, there could be one point between the Old Firm with 15 to play for.
Mohamed Diomande and Ridvan Yilmaz will be expected to play a big role for Rangers in these matches and let’s hope the clash with Dundee is one of the final games we’re missing these guys through injury this season.
As for Leon Balogun, the veteran defender is waiting in the wings but will Rangers boss Clement really drop one of Connor Goldson or John Souttar?
