Kilmarnock striker wishes Rangers’ Martyn Waghorn a speedy recovery but questions whether Rugby Park pitch was to blame for injury

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The Light Blues forward is set to miss most of the rest of the season, according to reports.

Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis has wished Rangers forward Martyn Waghorn well in his recovery from injury, after he limped out during the early stages of the two sides’ Scottish Cup replay in midweek, but defended the Rugby Park surface that has come in for criticism following the game, the Daily Record reports.

Waghorn gave the Gers the lead from the penalty spot just three minutes into the tie, but was forced off soon after due to a knee injury.

The Daily Record previously reported that the 26-year-old had suggested that he will be out for the next six to eight weeks, which prompted the Scottish Championship leaders to issue a statement suggesting that the artificial surface that the game was being played on was a major contributing factor.

However, while Magennis has insisted that he hopes that the former Wigan man returns soon, he suggested that a clash with Killie’s Stevie Smith was more likely to have caused the problem, given that Smith also had to be replaced during the first-half of the game.

“He was involved with a collision with Stevie and the both of them had to eventually go off,” he told the Record.

“If anything I would think that was when it happened rather than anything to do with the pitch. I am not the Rangers physio so I can’t say scientifically either way.

“You don’t like to see any player injured so hopefully he won’t be out for long.”

It is understandable that Mark Warburton’s side are feeling very frustrated about losing one of their key men for such a considerable amount of time at such a pivotal point of the season.

As well as their upcoming Scottish Cup quarter-final – as they ended up winning 2-1 against the Premiership side – they also have the Challenge Cup final on the horizon and still have plenty of work to do if they hope to secure promotion to the top flight.

While they currently boast an eight-point lead over Hibernian at the top of the table, Alan Stubbs’ men have a game in hand which may allow them to close that gap and apply some pressure on Rangers. And without Waghorn, their task of maintaining their place at the top will surely be much more difficult.