Connor Goldson has become the latest Rangers star to succumb to injury in a season near-defined by medical problems.
Philippe Clement was aghast when he walked in the door at Ibrox and found a patchwork squad lacking robust fitness and picking up injury after injury.
Whilst the work done by the Belgian since joining in October has been extensive, injury problems continue to hang over the club and are still consistently cropping up.
Now, in a seven-man injury update the Rangers manager has confirmed that Connor Goldson will miss the rest of the campaign in a devastating blow to the club.
Despite being out of the side for the last two matches, Connor was expected to return for the run-in and make no mistake the vice-captain’s absence is a sore one to take.
But as if things couldn’t get much worse on the injury front, Clement has also confirmed that another two long-term absentees will miss the rest of the season.
And that there could be another two on top of them also.
Goldson suffers training ground knee injury
Speaking to a pre-match press conference ahead of the Scottish Premiership visit of Kilmarnock on Sunday, Philippe Clement has explained that Connor Goldson has suffered a knee injury.
Whilst the Rangers boss confirmed the defender will definitely miss the rest of the season, Connor will return in pre-season.
Knee injuries have been a plague on Rangers in recent seasons, the club losing Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and most recently Danilo to serious ACL issues over the last few seasons.
Goldson’s issue however involves his medial ligament which carries with it an absence of around six weeks, and even longer if the issue requires surgery.
”Wednesday in the training there was a duel,” said Clement. “A player fell on Connor (Goldson), on his knee and he hurt his knee bad.
“He tried to continue but couldn’t so we made a scan and we see that he has a tear in his medial ligament so he will be out for the rest of the season.
“It’s of course a blow. He played 48 games this season. So he’s been important, played a lot of good games.
“He’s one of the leaders in the team also and he took that role really well.
“And that was also the first thing he said to me, that he wanted to be in the dressing room the next couple of games although he cannot play.
“To be there for the boys and to support them.So that’s already a positive thing from his side and shows also the commitment he has towards this group and this club.
“Of course it’s unlucky to lose him not but yeah it’s been the story of this season that players get injuries and then it’s about others to show their quality and to step up, what they did until now.”
When asked about the length of the injury, Clement said it’s a ‘miracle’ the defender has played so many games this season.
“Pre-season he will be back,” said Clement.
“He told me also that he’s happy about that because last season he missed almost all pre-season.
“So it’s been already quite a miracle that he played so many games and that he was fit so much time.
“This injury was really, really bad luck. In a duel falling down with two players and somebody falling on your knee, it can happen always in that way.”
Four more Rangers stars could miss season
Whilst the injury to Connor Goldson is an almighty blow, the problems don’t begin and end there for Rangers.
There are several players in the squad currently nursing injury problems and for the time being it remains unclear when and how they’re going to return.
Of the remaining six players who are out, Ridvan Yilmaz is the closest to returning with Ryan Jack not far behind.
“(Jack and Yilmaz) partly trained with the team,” said Clement. “We need to see tomorrow (if they will be fit for the clash with Kilmarnock).
“Ridvan maybe, Ryan not yet. He’s too far away for that, to have a few trainings and then to be available for the squad.
“For sure (Jack) will need more time than Ridvan but it’s normal also because Ridvan has been a long time out but less long than Ryan.”
However, the other four names nursing injury problems might not be so lucky to feature again this season.
Whilst Clement is holding out hope that Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo could return before the final whistle is blown this season, South American pair Oscar Cortes and Danilo will miss the remainder of the campaign.
“(Sima) is out now individual and I hope to see him back before the end of the season but no timescale yet,” said Clement.
“Same thing for (Rabbi Matondo). Oscar Cortes and Danilo, both of them will not be possible this season anymore.”
The situation leaves Leon Balogun, John Souttar and the out-of-sorts Ben Davies as the only available senior centre-backs for the run-in.
