Rangers news: McLeish fears injuries ‘crippling’ Giovanni van Bronckhorst before Red Star showdown
Alex McLeish fears injuries are “crippling” Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Gers and Scotland boss insisted it’s “really difficult” when the “nucleus” of your side is sidelined.
Van Bronckhorst welcomed Ryan Jack, Aaron Ramsey and Filip Helander back from injury for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
However, as confirmed pre-match (4 March), the Scottish Premiership champions are still unable to call on the services of Ianis Hagi, Steven Davis and Amad Diallo.
Davis and Diallo have not featured this month while Hagi has been sidelined since mid-January.
When asked for his assessment of the current injuries, McLeish told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams:
“It’s crippling for a manager when you lose that kind of quality from your side.
“Ryan Jack came back to great acclaim and then the dreaded injury that has been plaguing him has caught up again. He seems to be plagued by it. It’s been really disappointing.
“When you lose three of four players who form part of the nucleus of your team it can make things really difficult.
“We saw the amazing result in Dortmund in recent weeks but domestically the results have been mediocre. It is not what Rangers demand.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side remain three points behind league-leaders Celtic after Saturday’s win.
Rangers welcome Red Star Belgrade to Ibrox on Thursday before a trip to Dundee FC in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
In other news, a pundit has issued a ‘massive’ Kemar Roofe claim after news is confirmed.