Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has given an update on three of his injured Ibrox stars – confirming that ‘standard setter’ Ryan Jack is ‘getting closer’ to a return to action.
Jack has been out of action since midway through last season and was forced to slow down his rehab after returning to training earlier this summer as Rangers came back for pre-season.
The midfielder is joined on the injured list by Fashion Sakala (groin) and Nnamdi Ofoborh, with Gerrard “looking forward” to seeing Ofoborh return but confirming he is having to be “patient” over his recovery.
“Ryan Jack is progressing well and is getting closer,” Gerrard said. “He is one we are really looking forward to having back.
“He is a standard setter, someone who we’ve missed, certainly this season.
“Nnamdi is going for further tests next week so we are hoping for good news. But he’s been around the group, he’s settled and he just needs to try and get him back in a safe way and be patient with him as well.
“Sakala’s got a bit of a niggle in his groin. I think he’s paying for myself and the staff pushing him a little bit too quickly. He didn’t get a full pre-season and we’ve put him in a little bit too quick, taking him out of the hotel and putting him straight into full training, part of that little niggle is on me as well.
“That’s a frustrating one, but what we don’t want to do is put him in while it’s niggling away and make it worse. Hopefully, he won’t be too far away. “
While Sakala’s groin issue is described as ‘small’ by Gerrard it is interesting that the striker was taken out of Rangers’ Europa League squad to be replaced by Jon McLaughlin.
That also rules Sakala out of the second leg next week so it would be safe to assume his injury is one that will see him sidelined for weeks rather than days.
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