Hamza Igamane ‘mad’ as Rangers ace to miss starting XI v Club Brugge
Hamza Igamane returned from injury for Rangers as they beat Alloa Athletic 4-2 on Saturday evening.
The Moroccan came on for Danilo as the Ibrox outfit won in the Scottish League Cup.
Before that, Igamane last played for Rangers in the 2-0 win against Panathinaikos.
Igamane will not start against Club Brugge
Rangers take on Club Brugge next in the Champions League play-off on 19 August.
Russell Martin’s side are just one two-legged fixture away from qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition.
They’ve passed two rounds without any major scare, but this is undoubtedly set to be their toughest challenge yet.
With Igamane returning from injury, Martin was quizzed about Igamane’s availability to start against the Belgian side.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS FAR Rabat | 59 | 16 | 8 |
| Rangers | 48 | 16 | 3 |
He said: “No. I think we have to look at his physical condition. He’s literally just come back. He played half-an-hour. It’s a very different game.
“I’m not sure how long we would get from him from the start, so we have to utilise him and Thelo (Aasgaard) in the right way.
“I really liked Hamza’s energy when he came on. He can do things that other players can’t.
“Sometimes he looks a bit mad, but, if we can get him to make decisions a bit more consistently, I think he’ll really help us.”
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Rangers must negate Igamane’s re-injury risk
Igamane’s recent return from injury does not come without the risk of re-injury, as his body may not yet be fully conditioned for the demands of competitive football.
After missing a part of Gers’ pre-season and early matches due to a muscle issue, his gradual reintegration requires cautious management to prevent setbacks.
Overloading his minutes could strain recovering tissues, particularly in high-intensity matches like the upcoming Champions League play-off clash against Club Brugge.
Rangers’ medical staff must monitor his workload, balancing his desire to contribute with physical limitations.
Playing him for around 45 minutes against Club Brugge could be a prudent approach, allowing him to gain match fitness while minimising risk, especially if the game state permits a controlled substitution.
This strategy aligns with modern sports science, prioritising gradual load increases to protect young players like the 22-year-old, ensuring his long-term availability for Rangers’ demanding season.
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