Rangers crock overruns eight-week injury prognosis as Clement presented transfer headache
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Rabbi Matondo has now overran an initial eight-week prognosis for a hamstring injury which has halted the Rangers winger's season.
The 24-year-old attacker has seen his entire Rangers career to date badly impacted by injury problems and the winger is yet to justify the £2.5m outlay in 2022.
Rabbi Matondo hasn't been seen in Rangers colours since the 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership at the end of August.
Almost three months on from his last appearance, the injury now looks set to keep the winger out for at least 12 weeks, a month longer than initially predicted.
Rabbi Matondo overruns injury prognosis
Rabbi Matondo was heavily criticised for his role in Celtic's first goal in that Old Firm defeat at the end of August.
But the Rangers winger eventually went off injured and hasn't been seen turning out for the club since.
At the time, a report in the Rangers Review claimed that Rabbi Matondo was set to spend up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
When Matondo uploaded an image hinting at a return to training in October, it raised hopes that Rangers might see the attacker back on the pitch sooner rather than later.
Philippe Clement confirmed ahead of last week's Europa League clash with Olympiacos that Rabbi Matondo had returned to first-team training.
The winger was also involved as a Rangers XI played out a 2-2 draw with Motherwell in a bounce game this week.
But as we approach ten weeks since Rabbi Matondo was ruled out of action, it remains unclear just how close the injury-plagued Rangers winger is to actually returning to first-team action.
Rangers have a number of injury issues ongoing in the background of the club, with Matondo joining another three Ibrox stars in rehabilitation.
The Gers are also taking their time introducing the likes of Danilo back into the fold after a string of devastating injury problems.
Rangers in sliding doors transfer moment
Rangers have suffered as a result of injury problems over the last few years and more specifically in the left wing area this season.
Rabbi Matondo joins Colombian winger Oscar Cortes in picking up a serious injury, with Albanian international Nedim Bajrami expected to fill in out wide since moving to Ibrox.
With Rangers also pulling the plug on the last-minute loan move for Southampton's Samuel Edozie, Philippe Clement might be regretting that decision now.
Rangers turned down approaches for Rabbi Matondo from Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Since joining Rangers, Rabbi Matondo has not contributed anywhere near enough and but for a few flashes of quality, has never found the required consistency to make the difference at Ibrox.
Let's hope the winger is ready to contribute after the international break and can have a big impact on a crucial part of the season between December and March.
Now in his third season at Rangers, Matondo has made 65 appearances (26 starts) for the club, scoring eight goals and laying on twelve assists.
