Rangers Football Club has been struck by another injury setback with Ross McCausland ruled out of Northern Ireland’s encounter with Scotland, casting doubts over his availability for the upcoming fixture.
The promising winger, who was absent from the recent Europa League bout against Benfica due to an injury setback, received a call-up to the national team squad by manager Michael O’Neill despite his fitness concerns. However, McCausland’s hopes of representing his country have been dashed as he’s now been sidelined for the second friendly match against Scotland following his absence from the initial fixture against Romania. Consequently, his participation for Rangers in their imminent return to action hangs in the balance.
Reflecting on the mounting injury woes at Ibrox, Rangers’ manager Philippe Clement expressed his frustration, stating, “We’ve been hit with a series of setbacks on the injury front since my tenure began, and unfortunately, the situation doesn’t seem to be improving.”
Clement highlighted the absence of key players including striker Danilo, whose season-ending injury has compounded their woes, along with the prolonged recovery periods for Abdallah Sima and Oscar Cortes. Furthermore, Ryan Jack and Kieran Dowell remain sidelined, exacerbating the team’s predicament. The situation worsened with Ridvan Yilmaz’s injury while representing Turkey, leaving Rangers grappling with the challenge of managing their depleted squad.
“With every game being crucial at this juncture of the season and with fierce competition from Celtic, maintaining a strong and healthy squad is imperative,” Clement emphasized, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
McCausland now faces a race against time to recuperate ahead of Rangers’ next fixture, with Clement expressing hope for his swift recovery. “Given our circumstances, McCausland’s availability is crucial, and we’re hopeful he’ll be fit for the upcoming game,” Clement remarked, indicating the significance of McCausland’s potential return amidst the team’s injury crisis.