It’s hard to quantify just how big an impact injuries had on the Rangers squad last season.
But when you look at the startling lack of availability in certain areas of the squad and to high-earning key players, it’s fair to say it was sizeable
Philippe Clement has pledged to revamp the Rangers medical department and undergo a tough pre-season schedule which will prepare the Ibrox side’s squad for the rigours of a full season.
With sizeable turnover expected at Rangers in the coming weeks, those names who come into the club will not be afforded much patience to start making an impact.
But news that a £6m player who has already been at Ibrox a year is slowly creeping back to fitness is a welcome boost to supporters.
Major Danilo injury update
Brazilian striker Danilo was Rangers’ marquee signing in a window of transfer investment last summer.
Rangers spent around £21m on nine new players under Michael Beale with Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Jose Cifuentes and ex-Feyenoord forward Danilo commanding the bulk of that cash.
The reported £6m deal to sign Danilo had initially helped to soothe the pain of Alfredo Morelos’ exit, the Brazilian tasked with taking the Colombian’s place in the squad.
But injury badly disrupted Danilo’s initially bright start to life at Rangers.
Netting two goals in five appearances (one start) at the beginning of the Premiership season, Danilo suffered a facial fracture netting v St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Back with a mask a few weeks later, goals against Hearts and Dundee followed before the striker’s season was ended in early December courtesy of knee injury sustained against the Jambos at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement – as he has been a couple of times now – was not amused with the treatment of the striker in the lead up to the problem.
But after surgery, physiotherapy and agonising months on the sidelines watching fellow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers bear the brunt of goalscoring pressure, Danilo is edging closer to a return.
Whilst as of yet it is unclear if Danilo will be back in time for the season kicking off, the striker has been clipped back at the Rangers Training Centre with a ball at his feet for the first time in over six months.
Not only is he set to be like a new signing on the pitch for Philippe Clement, but Danilo returns without the challenge of transitioning into a new country.
Rangers to add striker reinforcements
If it’s hard to quantify just how big an impact losing the striker was last season, it’s easy for Rangers to quantify just how big a boost his return will be.
Rangers need someone to provide a lethal finishing touch with the club’s forward line sorely lacking a consistent, reliable finisher in the big moments.
If Danilo can find his shooting boots and lead the Rangers attack in the early part of the season by scoring goals then the contribution could prove priceless.
The Danilo news also comes at the same time as Rangers are looking to bolster their attack this summer.
Rangers are set to show some major belief in the potential of Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane whilst the talk is the club want two new forwards in the door this window.
With the Gers also waiting to hear on a more permanent deal for Senegalese frontman Abdallah Sima, Philippe Clement is taking no chances next season.
Throw Cyriel Dessers into the mix alongside the retuning Danilo and suddenly Rangers have a diverse range of forwards with it all to prove at Ibrox.
On a personal level, it’s great to see the samba strike star back with a ball at his feet.
Welcome back Danilo!
