Rangers already have their answer as full extent of Lawrence Shankland injury revealed
Derek McInnes' predicted injury timeframe for Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland appears to have been spot on.
Shankland hobbled off the field early on in Rangers' 1-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday.
The Scotland international had to wait until Monday before undergoing a scan on his hamstring.
Speaking after the game, McInnes admitted Shankland's injury looked "significant".
The timing could not have been any worse for the former Hearts player as he had just scored three times in his last two matches.
And Rangers have now discovered the full extent of the damage in a blow for Shankland and McInnes.
McInnes predicted after the striker left the field against Motherwell that he could be out for three months.
That is how long the 31-year-old missed earlier this year when sustaining an identical injury at Hearts.
And the Rangers Review have now reported that assessment is spot on, with Shankland out for at least 12 weeks.
It means he will miss at least 13 Rangers fixtures, as well as Scotland's UEFA Nations League matches.
What is Derek McInnes likely to do in Shankland's absence?
McInnes is already without Youssef Chermiti for the entire season through a knee injury sustained on the opening weekend.
While this is obviously a massive blow for the Gers, the good news is that Kevin Kelsy was brought in on deadline day.
Ryan Naderi was the man who replaced Shankland at the weekend and scored what proved to be the winner.
But it is Kelsy who will get the nod once he is fully up and running following his £9million move from Portland Timbers.
Supporters will have their fingers crossed he is able to hit the ground running, with Kelsy now the obvious answer while Shankland's out.
And McInnes will just be praying this is the last of the Gers' long-term injury layoffs.