Rangers injury news: Ross McCausland out as Michael O’Neill reveals Philippe Clement talks
Ross McCausland won’t feature against Scotland on Tuesday (26 March) as the Rangers winger has a “complex” injury that requires rest, Michael O’Neill has confirmed.
The Northern Ireland boss revealed on 25 March, via Glasgow Times, that the youngster has “played with pain” since going off hurt in the 2-0 Scottish Cup victory at Hibs on 10 March and after a conversation with Gers boss Philippe Clement it has been agreed that he will miss the international friendly.
O’Neill had previously suggested that the 20-year-old would miss the Scotland friendly [Scottish Sun, 23 March] but as now gone into more detail to indicate that the situation is ongoing but not feared to be too significant.
He said: “I don’t think it’s particularly serious. It’s a little bit complex from my understanding from the medical team. He was optimistic, but he has played with pain since he had the initial challenge and the injury.
“I spoke to Philippe Clement and they had him on the bench against Benfica, but I don’t think that realistically they intended to use him in that situation.
“He has got a lot to play for between now and the end of the season. We are conscious of that. So we don’t want to put him in a situation where we are bringing him off the bench and he is uncomfortable in that way.
“We just hope that he recovers quickly because the most important thing is that Ross is playing for Rangers and playing regularly because then we have got another player who is playing at a level where obviously we get a lot from that player playing on the international stage.”
Rangers avoid major injury blow to Ross McCausland
Clearly the last thing that Clement needs is to lose another player long-term so it is a positive that McCausland won’t be risked on international duty since it was thought he was carrying an issue after going off at Easter Road.
Ridvan Yilmaz has already picked up the latest of a never-ending supply of fitness problems within the Ibrox squad while away with Turkey.
And with a pair of crucial SPFL fixtures against Hibs and Celtic on the way after the break the manager needs to avoid any more set backs.
It has been hinted that star Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima, out since January after picking up a major issue without seeing a minute of action at the Africa Cup of Nations, might now be about to return for the Old Firm derby.
But with various others, including Danilo, Oscar Cortes, and Kieran Dowell all out, while Dujon Sterling is just returning from a knock, the squad is as ever being stretched as Clement gears up for a crucial run in with a possible treble on the line.
In other Rangers news, Hugh Keevins suggests the manager could look to leave Ibrox amid “dislike” at a number of factors in Scotland.
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