Confirmed – Gerrard issues triple Rangers injury update ahead of clash v Ross County
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard as revealed that first team duo Filip Helander and Matt Polster have returned to full training.
The Ibrox boss confirmed the news during a press conference on Friday morning.
Helander has been sidelined with a foot injury since early December, while Polster has not featured for the Light Blues since the beginning of January.
But it is now understood that both are nearing a return to action, although Gerrard did admit that this weekend’s clash against Ross County would come too soon for Helander.
The boss also provided an injury update on captain James Tavernier, who was forced to withdraw during the Gers’ 1-0 defeat to Hamilton in midweek.
The 28-year-old is a doubt for Sunday’s match after receiving treatment, but has not yet been ruled out of contention entirely.
How much of a boost will this be for Rangers?
In the immediacy, it won’t make too much of a difference.
Helander is really where the interest lies in this one, and he will not play this weekend, barring some kind of minor miracle.
Looking beyond Sunday’s clash, however, having the Sweden international back can only be a good thing for Steven Gerrard.
The centre of defence has proved to be a problematic position for the boss since the Gers returned from their winter break, with Nikola Katic and George Edmundson alternating starts alongside Connor Goldson, who himself has not been in the best form.
In fact, the defensive mainstay gave the ball away 11 times against Hamilton in midweek, with six of those instances coming in his own half, as per Wyscout.
For his part, Helander has averaged 6.99 dispossessions this term, but just over 50% have given the ball to the opposition in his own half.
That added solidity may seem like a relatively minor thing, but for a side who are looking as shaky as the Gers are right now, having a no-nonsense, reliable figure at the heart of defence will be a real bonus.
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