By support

1st Mar, 2018 | 5:36pm

Rangers must hope key player injury blow is not serious with clash v Celtic rapidly approaching

COMMENT

Rangers winger Jamie Murphy limped out of Tuesday night’s Scottish Premiership win over St. Johnstone and the Gers must hope that Murphy’s injury isn’t serious enough to keep him out of the rapidly-approaching Old Firm clash against Celtic.

The on-loan Brighton star has been in devastating form with three goals and five assists in recent games to help the Gers close the gap on league leaders Celtic to six points.

The 28-year-old key player will almost certainly miss the Scottish Cup clash with Championship side Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday but it is the following week’s fixture that should be the main concern.

A win over Brendan Rodgers’ side would blow the title race wide open and give the Ibrox side a real chance at lifting their first top-flight title since Walter Smith’s side won the league in 2011.

After the Gers’ financial meltdown of 2012, fans of the club have been desperately waiting to see their side lift the title again and the possible absence of Murphy in what is the Light Blues’ biggest game of the season will be a worry.

Without Murphy available, it could mean a tactical switch by manager Graeme Murty to introduce Jason Cummings beside Alfredo Morelos and moving Josh Windass out wide or using Cummings or Kenny Miller wide left in the existing 4-2-3-1 shape.

Murphy’s only been at Ibrox for about nine weeks but the winger’s absence against Celtic would arguably be felt worse than any other of his team-mates.

In other Rangers news, after new record-breaking bid tabled for Rangers ace, Dave King has pulled off a masterstroke

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