Potentially huge Ibrox injury boost for Rangers v Celtic

Ibrox Noise

·26 March 2024

Potentially huge Ibrox injury boost for Rangers v Celtic

There has been a (potentially) major injury boost for Rangers after both Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz’ injuries were downplayed significantly with a possibility both could return for Celtic.

Yilmaz was forced off for his nation v Hungary and the prognosis as a suspected thigh tear was far from positive, but Ridvan’s own camp has reportedly sent out the following statement:

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“We’re hoping the recovery process will only take seven to 10 days. Fortunately the injury is not too severe. While we don’t want to put an exact date on it, we’re hoping he will be in the squad or, even better, on the pitch against Celtic.”

Now, there is no source behind this statement, it’s only allegedly from Ridvan’s own camp, but it’s better than nothing and we clearly and obviously hope the content is true, giving him a fighting chance of making it v Celtic.

As for McCausland, national manager Michael O’Neill was at pains to reassure that the winger’s injury isn’t serious, but it’s complicated.

He said:

“I don’t think it’s particularly serious. It’s a little bit complex from my understanding from the medical team. He was optimistic, but he has played with pain since he had the initial challenge and the injury.”

Reasonable assessment, and he went on:

“I spoke to (Rangers boss) Philippe Clement and they had him on the bench against Benfica, but I don’t think that realistically they intended to use him in that situation. He has got a lot to play for between now and the end of the season. We are conscious of that. So we don’t want to put him in a situation where we are bringing him off the bench and he is uncomfortable in that way.”

This is what Ibrox Noise suggested, and Clement himself affirmed, that McCausland really shouldn’t have been on that bench.

Lastly he added:

“We just hope that he recovers quickly because the most important thing is that Ross is playing for Rangers and playing regularly because then we have got another player who is playing at a level where obviously we get a lot from that player playing on the international stage.”

In simple terms, he’s touch and go for Celtic, although the chances are probably low.

We would pessimistically say both have a 30%-40% of featuring, but hopefully our modest hopes are indeed just grumpy.

Some might say they’re realistic. We should probably prepare v Celtic without the notion of having either of them available.