Philippe Clement gives 'positive' injury update on Rangers trio and when they could return
11/27/2024 02:40 PM
Philippe Clement has provided a 'positive' injury update on three players in the Rangers squad for whom fitness issues have blighted their Ibrox careers.
Clement was speaking to the media ahead of the Europa League clash with OGC Nice in France as the Gers look to get back to winning ways.
With Oscar Cortes spotted in training ahead of Rangers' trip to the continent, excitement is building about the return of the Colombian to the Ibrox first-team.
Philippe Clement gave an update on the 20-year-old's current injury situation at Rangers and has also provided some good news on another two players in the club's squad.
Philippe Clement confirms trio's injury return
"In that way positive also," said Clement when referring to the squad's injury status. "We spoke about that last season, we had big periods with 12 players out. Long periods like that.
"So Oscar (Cortes) did his first part of the training today, so he will need still a few more weeks to be ready to play games but it's a positive thing.
"Tom Lawrence is also close. It's in the next couple of weeks he will be back, Rabbi Matondo the same. And we want to keep it that way."
Rangers manager singles out Ibrox success story
Rangers have had a number of serious injury problems over the last few seasons with Oscar Cortes, Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo amongst the worst affected.
But as that attacking Rangers trio prepare to make their returns to the Ibrox fold – albeit with the next couple of weeks in mind – Philippe Clement has cited John Souttar as a major injury positive.
The Scotland international has emerged as a key player for club and country this season and Clement reckons the 28-year-old is a shining example of what's to come at Auchenhowie.
"I think John (Souttar) is a good example in that way also for the past year," said Clement.
"He had problems in the past in the way he's performing in the last couple of months, regularly playing all these minutes.
"It's the first time in his career that he's played so many minutes and we have a few other examples in that way also. So that's a positive and we want to keep it that way.
"We're a lot of times busy with prevention, with the power, with the training, doing the right things.
"Now you start to see the fruits of all the things we're working on the last couple of months and (Souttar) is also one proof of that."
