Filip Helander admits Rangers injury setbacks ‘took longer than it needed’ after summer exit
Filip Helander has admitted that his road to recovery at Rangers took “longer than it needed” as he didn’t have surgery right away.
Speaking with Swedish outlet Expressen (15 September), the Ibrox title-winner said his time on the sidelines was “tough” after his six-month injury, admitting he didn’t know if he would “come back at all”.
Rangers confirmed at the end of last season that the Sweden international would depart the club, with the 30-year-old joining Danish top-flight side Odense Boldklub on 31 August.
Helander said, as quoted by FootballScotland: “It should have gone faster. It took longer than it needed to because we didn’t really know how to treat it. Instead of having surgery right away, I rehabbed it without surgery.
“I lost almost six months on that. It was tough that it took so long. At the same time, you never know if you will even come back at all, so I am very happy that I can play football today. I am fully healthy to play the match, but as always it is a competitive situation. You don’t get a place automatically. The best play.”
Come back strong
While the injuries sustained in Glasgow were significant for the Swede, he claims to be on the road to recovery and working back to full fitness at his new club.
Per Transfermarkt, Helander missed 68 Rangers games across 413 days after sustaining a foot injury back in April 2022, missing the entirety of last season.
His time in Glasgow will be remembered most fondly for this title-winning season under Steven Gerrard in the 2020/21 season, being an ever-present in the side making 22 appearances.
The Swede also won the Scottish Cup the following season, netting a rare Rangers goal in the Round of 16 clash against Annan Athletic.
He clearly has some regrets over how his injury was treated at Rangers, but noted that “we didn’t really know how to treat it”.
For now, Rangers fans will wish him well in his new football journey in Denmark.
In other Rangers news, a manager has come in defence of the under-pressure Michael Beale.