As Rangers attempt to rebound from a disappointing defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock, they will have to do so without the services of one key player, thanks to an injury. The Glasgow-based club, who were hoping to take advantage of Celtic’s slip-up in the Scottish Premiership, instead found themselves on the wrong end of a late winner, courtesy of Marley Watkins.
The loss has put pressure on manager Philippe Clement, who is under increasing scrutiny to turn things around. As a result, the upcoming Europa League clash against FCSB takes on even greater importance.
Unfortunately, Clement’s options will be limited, as Ridvan Yilmaz and Danilo have both been ruled out of the match due to injury. The right-back has been sidelined with a hamstring problem for 12 games, and while he is progressing in his recovery, he is not yet ready to return to action. Danilo, who has missed the last five games, is also on the road to recovery, but will not be available for the hosts.
As reported by Rangers Review, Clement expressed his thoughts on the duo’s progress. “Yesterday, I was at the second team game, watching the young guys, watching Danilo back scoring a goal and getting back in shape. He still has a long way to go,” he said. When asked about Yilmaz, Clement noted, “He’s not yet in the selection because Ridvan trained now for the second time with the first team. He came out of a serious injury and it is too fast to put him in a game but he is in a positive way.”
The loss of Yilmaz, particularly, is a significant blow to Rangers, who desperately need his return to add some much-needed stability to their backline. With Jefte competing for the left-back spot, Yilmaz’s return will likely spark a fierce competition for places, which could ultimately benefit the team.
The 20-year-old, who was labelled a “fighter” by Clement last season, will be eager to regain his spot and provide some much-needed depth to the backline. While he is not yet ready to return, his eventual comeback will be a welcome one for the struggling Rangers, who can ill-afford to lose another key player. As the fixtures pile up, the depth that Yilmaz’s return will provide may well prove to be the key to turning around the team’s fortunes.
