George Overhill

Thu 8 September 2022 15:43, UK

Rangers look like they have been given a much-needed Champions League boost with the news that Victor Osimhen is set to miss Napoli’s trip to Ibrox.

The club’s long-awaited return to the group stages of Europe’s top competition was a sobering experience on Wednesday night (7 September) as they were overwhelmed in Amsterdam and lost 4-0 to Ajax.

Their Italian opponents in the next game are due in Glasgow on 13 September and appear likely to be without their star Nigerian striker.

Writing on his personal Twitter account on Thursday afternoon, journalist Oma Akatugba said: “Victor Osimhen did the ultrasound today and will undergo MRI test soon. Looks like he could be out for about 14 days. Nothing too serious.”

The Serie A side will still be a huge test for Giovanni van Bronckhorst after they thrashed Liverpool 4-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona following the Gers’ result, despite Osimhen missing a penalty in the game.

Off the back of a bruising week in which the club has suffered back to back 4-0 defeats at Celtic and in the Netherlands the manager will take any help he can get at the moment.

Not having to face Osimhen would give him one less thing to deal with in what will be a tough match all the same.

A positive result at Aberdeen on Saturday (10 September) feels like an absolute must at this point to restore some belief to a team that has quickly become beleaguered and defeated.

A reasonable start to the season and the big step of returning to the Champions League has already descended into a mess, with questions being asked of the players’ attitudes, the manager’s ability, and the running of the club with the expected financial boosts apparently not in evidence.

Clearly, a massive improvement is needed from the previous two matches, and fast, or there could be jobs on the line soon.

In other Rangers news, one major sacking has already occurred this week and it was excuses around a big game at Ibrox that helped set it in motion.