Rangers ‘nightmare’ as specialists warn Danilo he faces ‘lengthy rehab’ after surgery and months out of Philippe Clement’s side
Danilo is set to be out of action for Rangers until April after receiving the “nightmare news” that he requires surgery on his medial ligament injury, according to the Scottish Sun.
The paper reported via their website late on 12 December that the striker faces a “lengthy rehab” after an operation according to specialists and there is currently “no fixed timescale” for his return, although an absence of four months is on the cards.
Philippe Clement had revealed prior to the win against Dundee at the weekend that there was a chance the 24-year-old may need surgery after being injured in the midweek victory at Hearts (6 December), and the worst-case fears appear to have now been confirmed.
Clement reportedly hoped Danilo would be back after the winter break but it is going to be the majority of the season that he now misses.
Cursed
Having already been ruled out for five matches earlier this season with a broken cheekbone this is crushing blow to Danilo’s start to life at Ibrox.
But with the former Feyenoord man having scored six and assisted five since his summer arrival it only further weakens Clement’s attack.
He had struggled to fully establish himself as a proven option up front for Rangers but had at least surpassed fellow new arrivals Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers.
With Kemar Roofe regularly out injured himself it leaves Clement with four senior strikers, none of whom he can currently rely upon to be fit or in form.
The Belgian has already expressed his bemusement at the fitness issues at Ibrox a number of times since he took over from Michael Beale, and yet they have continued unabated since.
He revealed the injury to Danilo at the same time as he confirmed Tom Lawrence is out for another month after going off at Tynecastle, meaning he now has a selection crisis in attack and midfield ahead of the Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen and his first Old Firm derby with Celtic before the end of the month.
In other Rangers news, a “fantastic” forward is expected to be first on the Gers transfer list this January ahead of the likes of Lawrence Shankland.