Derek McInnes has warned that Rangers are effectively "playing with fire" after a spate of injuries has left the club with a very limited pool of defensive options. The manager disclosed that Tuur Rommens suffered a groin strain in the closing moments of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership loss to Hibernian and is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks. In the same fixture, promising striker Youssef Chermiti sustained a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for a "significant period of time" and further compounding the squad’s problems.
The early part of the campaign has been anything but smooth for the Glasgow side. After failing to secure a win in their first two league matches, the pressure is mounting on McInnes to reinforce the team, particularly in the full‑back, wing and forward positions. The club has already moved to address one of those gaps by targeting PSV winger Couhaib Driouech, who is set to join Rangers for an estimated fee of £6.5 million. McInnes explained that bolstering the defensive line and adding width were top priorities, but the loss of a player of Chermiti’s calibre means the club must also focus on finding a suitable replacement up front.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok, McInnes said, "We don’t have an array of options defensively. We don’t have a left‑footed centre‑back in the building and we’re keen to try and get that resolved as quickly as possible. Strengthening defensively, strengthening in wide areas was a priority.
But obviously losing a player of Youssef's ability, we need to look at that one as well." He added that the limited depth makes the team vulnerable, noting, "I do think that with the numbers we've got there, we are playing with fire and we are a couple of defenders being injured. The good thing is we’ve got the ability to react to it and hopefully we can react positively." Chermiti’s injury came shortly after Rangers reportedly turned down a substantial offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray. McInnes was quick to stress that the club had no intention of parting with the young striker this summer. "The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of it for us," he said.
"One minute you're flying high and you've got the full season ahead of you and a lot of loftier ambitions for yourself, then obviously he's had to deal with this injury." The manager also highlighted the difficulty of recruiting a quality number nine, describing the role as one of the hardest positions to fill. "We will try to get the right one that would complement what we've got at the top of the pitch. Obviously, we're looking for a bit of pace at the top of the pitch, ideally something similar to what Youssef did," McInnes explained.
He acknowledged that the club’s recent form – just one point from the opening two Premiership fixtures – adds urgency to the recruitment drive. Rangers now face a crucial Europa League second‑leg tie against Jagiellonia, where they trail 2‑1 from the first encounter.
McInnes reminded everyone that football is rarely a smooth ride. "We understand that it’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows, I got the job for a reason," the former Hearts boss said. "We’re going to be playing a European game in front of 50,000 tomorrow.
There are a lot of changes indeed, and there’s a lot of turning around of the squad. Of course, it’s not been as straightforward as I hoped, and we want to enjoy the job a lot better than it is at the minute." He went on to reflect on the broader challenges of management, noting that ups and downs are inevitable. "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, work really swiftly in recruitment," McInnes concluded. In summary, Rangers are confronting a defensive crisis amplified by injuries to key players like Rommens and Chermiti.
The club is actively seeking reinforcements, with Driouech’s imminent arrival marking the first step. McInnes remains optimistic that swift recruitment and tactical adjustments can mitigate the risks, but he acknowledges that the current situation is precarious and demands immediate attention. The upcoming Europa League clash will be a litmus test for the squad’s resilience and the effectiveness of any new signings that arrive in the coming weeks.