Rangers Receive Injury Update Ahead of St Johnstone Clash as Seven Players Face Absence
Rangers are preparing for their Scottish Premiership meeting with St Johnstone at Ibrox, with several players expected to miss the important fixture because of injury concerns.
Manager Derek McInnes will be hoping his team can return to winning ways after their impressive winning run came to an end in a 2-2 draw against Dundee. Rangers had taken the lead through Badredine Bouanani and Nico Raskin, but they were unable to secure all three points.
The result left Rangers trailing Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, increasing the importance of their upcoming home fixture.
Meanwhile, St Johnstone travel to Glasgow in encouraging form. Their 1-1 draw with Dundee United extended their unbeaten run to three matches and strengthened their position in the league standings.
Rangers’ Injury Concerns
Rangers have several players unavailable for the encounter, leaving McInnes with decisions to make as he considers his starting lineup.
Cameron Devlin is among the players expected to miss the match because of injury. Daisuke Yokota is also unavailable after undergoing surgery for a groin problem and is expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines.
Jose Cifuentes remains out following an injury that required surgery, while Lawrence Shankland continues to deal with a hamstring problem.
Ross McCrorie is another concern after suffering a minor hamstring injury. He is expected to remain unavailable for at least another two weeks.
Youssef Chermiti is also facing an extended spell out after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Hibernian in August.
Zach Mitchell, who is on loan at St Johnstone, is also expected to miss the fixture because of a serious knee injury.
Kevin Kelsy Could Return to the Starting Lineup
One decision facing McInnes concerns Kevin Kelsy.
The Rangers forward was left on the bench for the draw against Dundee, but the manager could consider restoring him to the starting lineup against St Johnstone.
Kelsy’s performances since arriving at Ibrox have attracted attention, and his involvement could provide Rangers with another attacking option as they attempt to secure maximum points.
St Johnstone Receive Encouraging News
St Johnstone have enjoyed a positive start to life following their promotion and will be eager to continue their progress against Rangers.
Their recent draw against Dundee United extended their unbeaten run to three games, giving them additional confidence ahead of the trip to Ibrox.
However, Zach Mitchell’s absence represents a setback for the visitors, with the defender expected to remain out for an extended period.
Rangers Aim to Return to Winning Ways
Despite their injury problems, Rangers will be confident of producing a strong performance in front of their supporters.
Their recent home form provides encouragement, while St Johnstone will face the challenge of taking on one of the league’s strongest sides at Ibrox.
McInnes must now decide how best to organise his team while managing the available options.
With important league points at stake, Rangers will be determined to avoid another disappointing result and maintain their pursuit of the Scottish Premiership leaders.
