Rangers are staring down a significant selection headache as they prepare for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash with Celtic at Ibrox.
The injury list continues to grow at the worst possible moment for Derek McInnes’ side.
Rangers Gathering Momentum After Difficult Start
The Gers have finally begun to shake off a disappointing opening to the campaign.
Three successive victories have restored some belief around the club, with the latest coming in a narrow but hard-fought win over Motherwell at the weekend.
That result completed a much-needed upturn in form after a stuttering beginning under McInnes.
European Ambitions Already Ended
The poor start to life under the new manager has already cost Rangers a place in European competition this season.
Attention has now firmly shifted toward mounting a serious challenge for the Premiership title.
However, the gap to Celtic remains a clear five points after the champions made a perfect start with five wins from five league matches.
Old Firm Double Header Looms Large
The two Glasgow rivals are set for a double dose of derby action in the coming fortnight.
First comes the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox on Sunday, before the league meeting follows a week later.
Both fixtures will be played without away supporters, a policy that will apply to every Old Firm encounter this season.
Home Advantage Could Prove Crucial
Playing in front of a packed and partisan Ibrox crowd offers Rangers a genuine opportunity to take control of the tie.
Yet the growing injury problems threaten to undermine that home advantage before a ball is even kicked.
Shankland Injury Deals Fresh Blow
The latest setback centres on striker Lawrence Shankland.
The Scotland international was forced off during the Motherwell victory and now looks set to join fellow forward Youssef Chermiti in the treatment room.
Chermiti is already expected to miss the entire season, leaving the attacking options severely stretched.
McInnes Delivers Cautious Assessment
Speaking to BBC Scotland after the Motherwell game, McInnes refused to sugar-coat the situation.
“It looks quite significant,” the Rangers manager admitted.
“It’s a similar injury we think that he had at Hearts last January.”
McInnes confirmed that scans are scheduled for Monday and preferred to wait for those results rather than speculate further.
He did, however, underline the timing of the blow.
“It’s disappointing because he was leading the line and scoring a few goals in the last couple of games,” McInnes added.
“There were more positives than negatives from today, but that was a negative.”
Halliday Highlights Missed Opportunities
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday offered his own assessment on Sportssound shortly after the final whistle.
Halliday felt Shankland’s presence for the full ninety minutes would have changed the scoreline.
“If Lawrence Shankland was on the pitch throughout, he’d be walking away with a couple of goals,” he said.
Toothless Finishing Remains a Concern
Halliday also noted that Rangers created enough chances to win more comfortably but lacked a clinical edge once Shankland departed.
“Rangers were a bit toothless at the top end of the pitch given the chances they created, but well worth their victory,” he concluded.
Striker Options Now Severely Limited
Losing Shankland for any significant period would represent a major blow for a squad already light in the forward areas.
Ryan Naderi is the most immediate alternative and scored during the weekend win over Motherwell.
Summer arrivals Kevin Kelsy and Bojan Miovski are also available for selection.
Quality Gap With Celtic Is Clear
Even with those options, the gulf in attacking quality between the two sides is difficult to ignore.
Celtic can call upon the proven threat of Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán.
Chermiti was widely regarded as the only Rangers forward who could regularly match that level, while Shankland has yet to hit top form this season.
Tactical Implications for McInnes
McInnes has shown a preference for a structured, high-pressing system that relies on a focal point up front.
Shankland had begun to fill that role effectively in recent weeks, linking play and occupying centre-backs.
His absence forces a rethink in both shape and personnel.
Possible Adjustments in Attack
Naderi offers pace and directness but lacks Shankland’s physical presence and hold-up play.
Kelsy and Miovski provide different profiles, yet neither has fully established themselves as a consistent starter.
McInnes may need to adjust his midfield support or alter the width of the attack to compensate.
League Context Adds Extra Pressure
Rangers sit five points behind Celtic in the early Premiership table.
While the title race remains in its infancy, every dropped point or cup exit carries heavier weight given the perfect start made by their rivals.
A positive result on Sunday would inject further belief into the Ibrox squad.
Fans Demand Response
Supporters have grown increasingly vocal about the need for consistency after the difficult opening weeks.
Social media reaction to the Shankland injury has mixed frustration with calls for the remaining forwards to step up.
Many fans believe the three-game winning run has bought McInnes some breathing space, but a heavy defeat to Celtic could quickly change that mood.
Cup Competition Offers Different Challenge
The Premier Sports Cup quarter-final brings its own unique pressures.
Unlike league matches, there is no second chance if the performance falls short.
Celtic will arrive at Ibrox full of confidence and with a squad that has looked sharp in every competition so far.
Home Crowd Must Play Its Part
With no away fans permitted, the atmosphere inside Ibrox will be entirely one-sided.
Rangers will hope that intensity can help mask any deficiencies caused by the absences of Shankland and Chermiti.
McInnes has repeatedly stressed the importance of collective effort in such fixtures.
Looking Ahead to a Defining Fortnight
Sunday’s cup tie is only the beginning of a testing period.
The league meeting a week later will offer another opportunity to close the gap on Celtic, provided Rangers emerge from the cup clash with belief intact.
How McInnes navigates the current injury problems will go a long way toward shaping that outcome.
Scan Results Awaited With Interest
All eyes will now turn to the medical update expected after Monday’s scans on Shankland.
A lengthy absence would force Rangers to accelerate the development of their remaining strikers.
A shorter lay-off would at least offer hope of a return before the busiest part of the autumn schedule.
Rangers Still Building Under McInnes
Despite the early European exit, there are signs that McInnes is beginning to impose his methods.
The three consecutive victories have featured improved defensive organisation and greater control in midfield.
Those foundations will be tested to the limit against a Celtic side that has shown few weaknesses so far.
Attacking Creativity Remains the Key Question
Creating clear chances has not been the primary issue in recent games.
Converting them consistently has proved more difficult, especially once Shankland left the field against Motherwell.
Finding a reliable goal threat without their two main strikers represents the biggest challenge of the week ahead.
Rangers head into the Old Firm cup clash with momentum but also with clear limitations in the final third.
How they adapt will determine whether Sunday becomes a statement of progress or another difficult afternoon against their greatest rivals.