Derek McInnes has openly cautioned that Rangers are "playing with fire" after a spate of injuries has left the club with a severely limited pool of defensive options. The Scottish club’s manager disclosed that Tuur Rommens suffered a groin strain in the dying moments of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership loss to Hibernian and is now expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks. That setback comes on the heels of another blow to the squad’s attacking line‑up: forward Youssef Chermiti sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the same match, an injury that is likely to keep him out for a "significant period of time". The twin injuries have amplified concerns that already existed after a winless start to the campaign.
McInnes admitted that his roster needs reinforcement across several positions, specifically mentioning the full‑back, winger and striker roles. The first signing to address those needs appears to be Couhaib Driouech, a winger who is set to join the club from PSV for a fee reported to be around £6.5 million.
"Strengthening defensively and in wide areas was a priority," McInnes said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok. "Losing a player of Youssef's ability means we also have to look at that position." He went on to explain the depth issue on the back line: "We don't have an array of options defensively. We don't have a left‑footed centre‑back in the squad and we’re eager to resolve that as quickly as possible." The manager added that the lack of cover makes the team vulnerable: "I do think that with the numbers we have, we are playing with fire and we have a couple of defenders injured. The good thing is we have the ability to react, and hopefully we can react positively." Chermiti's injury came just hours after news broke that Rangers had turned down a substantial offer from Galatasaray for the young striker.
McInnes stressed that the club had no intention of letting the player leave this summer, stating: "The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of our project. One minute you’re flying high, you have the whole season ahead of you and big ambitions, and then an injury hits." He acknowledged the difficulty of finding a suitable replacement for a number nine: "The number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get. We will try to find the right player who complements what we have at the top of the pitch.
Ideally, we want someone with pace, similar to what Youssef offered." Rangers have collected just one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures and now travel to Poland to complete the Europa League tie, trailing 2‑1 after the first leg. McInnes reminded everyone that football is not always "sunshine and rainbows" and that he was hired for a reason: "We understand it won’t always be easy. I got the job for a reason. We’re going to be playing a European game in front of 50,000 tomorrow." He also reflected on the broader challenges facing the squad: "There have been a lot of changes and a lot of turning around of the squad.
It hasn’t been as straightforward as I hoped, and we want to enjoy the job much more than it is at the moment. It's part of being a manager – there are ups and downs, but it’s about coping with the difficult times. It defines you, and I think it’s up to us now to knuckle down, stay calm and work swiftly in recruitment." The manager’s comments underline a sense of urgency in the transfer market.
With a left‑footed centre‑back missing and the forward line depleted, the club’s scouting and recruitment departments are under pressure to deliver solutions before the next set of fixtures. The arrival of Driouech is seen as a first step, but McInnes hinted that more signings are likely, especially in the defensive department, where the lack of depth could become a liability in both domestic and European competitions.
In addition to the on‑field concerns, the club is also dealing with the commercial side of the sport. The injury to Chermiti came shortly after Rangers rejected a lucrative bid from Galatasaray, suggesting that the club values long‑term planning over immediate financial gain. McInnes’ remarks reflect a commitment to building a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts, even if that means navigating a period of turbulence and uncertainty. As the team prepares for the Europa League second leg, the focus will be on stabilising the back line, integrating new signings, and finding a suitable replacement for Chermiti’s striking role.
McInnes’ candid assessment of the situation – describing the current state as "playing with fire" – serves as both a warning and a rallying cry for the club to act decisively. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Rangers can overcome their injury woes and restore confidence among supporters and players alike.