Anthony Onifade

Sat 9 December 2023 13:10, UK

Rangers were plunged into yet more injury crisis this week which must force Philippe Clement to turn to another Ibrox academy gem in Bailey Rice.

The Light Blues boss shared the news in his pre-match press conference on 8 December that striker Danilo is out and faces possible surgery on his knee after a tackle in the win over Hearts.

Tom Lawrence, forced off in the first half, also faces a month or so on the sidelines as he will be missing until the league’s winter break leaving Clement with more injury trouble.

It seems as if the Grim injury reaper at Ibrox has struck again, but this time, at such a crucial point in the Gers season as they look to chase up to rivals Celtic before Christmas.

Despite Clement’s promising start to life as Rangers boss, winning eight of his 11 games in charge at Ibrox, the Belgian certainly hasn’t been pleased about the amount of injuries he’s had to contend with.

December is arguably the most crucial month for any club trying to chase league titles and domestic cup trophies and that’s the situation Rangers find themselves in now, but that pursuit has certainly taken a grand hit with this latest development.

Lawrence’s injury continues a miserable series of blows since his arrival from Derby two summers ago, while Danilo’s issue comes after he sat out with a facial fracture early in the season.

It certainly seems as if every single Rangers player has endured an injury issue or two so far this season.

Clement’s frustrations and anguish at such a situation are understandable as it leaves him in a state of flux concerning choosing his best XI every week.

However, the Belgian solved an injury issue to Rabbi Matondo by turning to academy gem Ross McCausland – a decision which has proven an absolute masterstroke for the former Monaco boss.

So why can’t he continue that trend and utilise another Ibrox sensation in Rice to help deal with the loss of Lawrence?

The 17-year-old left fellow SPFL side Motherwell to join Rangers in June 2022 and Michael Beale handed him his senior debut in February, playing two minutes in the Gers’ 3-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Rice was also named in the squad for the Light Blues’ final Scottish Premiership clash against St Mirren on Saturday [27 May] but was an unused sub and went on to feature for 13 minutes in two games so far this season, 12 minutes against Motherwell in September and a solitary minute against St Mirren at the start of October [Transfermarkt].

He has certainly been around the block this past year, featuring 14 times in the Youth Lowland League, six times in the UEFA Youth League as well as featuring prominently for the Scottish Under-17 side. He hasn’t been captain of the team for no reason.

There are high hopes for the Scotland Under-17 captain who is striving for more first-team exposure and while some fans may argue it’s a bit of a risk to throw Rice in the deep end, weren’t they saying the same thing about McCausland?

Also if clubs like Paris Saint-German can entrust their midfield responsibilities to a 17-year-old in Warren Zaïre-Emery or Manchester United instilling their faith in 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who’s to say Rangers can’t?

According to a report from 90Min on 13 March a host of big-name clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Newcastle United were believed to be showing interest in luring Rice away from Ibrox.

That alone should give everyone associated with the football club that Rice deserves the opportunity to take a massive bet and risk on.

It’s a tradition that has been ingrained at Rangers football club since its inception in 1872 where the club was founded by four teenage boys as they walked through West End Park (now Kelvingrove Park).

Rice has been viewed as a deep-lying playmaker but his awareness coupled with his defensive abilities make him an option to play at centre-back as well.

With Clement’s injury fears developing right now, he is well within his right to hand Rice the refreshing McCausland treatment, it makes perfect sense.

In other Rangers news, Si Ferry and Kevin Kyle have slammed Sam Lammers dubbing him a “joke” after his poor recent displays