Rangers: Philippe Clement shares Abdallah Sima injury update amid ‘Timescale’ verdict
Philippe Clement has revealed that Abdallah Sima is set to return to the Rangers training pitches this week but was reluctant to suggest a timescale for his return.
The Brighton loanee has not played a single minute for the Gers since scoring in a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock on Tuesday 2 January, suffering a thigh injury on international duty with Senegal.
An absence of two to three months was confirmed by Clement at the end of January, having undergone successful surgery to correct the issue.
Speaking to Rangers Review on Friday (1 March), the Belgian manager said: “He’s good. Getting better and better. He’s on schedule,” said Clement of Sima’s condition.
“I don’t want to put a timescale on that, it’s a little too early. But next week for the first time he’s going to go on the grass for the first time without the ball. So that’s his normal programme.”
Could Abdallah Sima make a Rangers return before season’s end?
The 22-year-old has been a frightening prospect at Ibrox since arriving from Brighton last summer, striking fear into the opposition with his pace, directness and eye for goal.
With 15 goals in 33 appearances, the winger is still the club’s third-highest scorer this season, beaten only by James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers.
Rangers fans started to sweat after news emerged that their star attacker had picked up an injury while away at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, but the January transfer window was a shining light at Ibrox.
The loan additions of Oscar Cortes from Lens and Mohamed Diomande from Nordsjaelland, before a permanent transfer in the summer, have both hit the ground running in Scotland.
However, the former has now picked up an injury of his own, leaving Clement slightly light on the left flank, with injuries to Rabbi Matondo and Danilo already known.
As the Gers look to claim their second Scottish Premiership trophy in the last decade, as well as compete for the Europa League title, the return of Sima would be very welcomed at Ibrox.
It appears that there is still some way to go before he can return to Clement’s squad, though.
In other Rangers news, Borna Barisic was slammed live on BBC.
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