Derek McInnes has openly warned that Rangers are treading on thin ice after a spate of injuries has left the club severely short of defensive options. The Scottish side’s manager disclosed that midfielder Tuur Rommens suffered a groin strain in the dying minutes of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership loss to Hibernian and will be sidelined for as long as eight weeks. At the same time, the club’s forward‑line has taken a hit as striker Youssef Chermiti sustained an ACL tear in the same match, an injury that is expected to keep him out for a "significant period of time". The twin setbacks come at a precarious moment for Rangers, who have yet to register a win in their opening two league fixtures and are already feeling the pressure of a demanding schedule that includes a crucial Europa League qualifier against Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok.
McInnes admitted that the squad is in need of reinforcement across several areas – full‑back, winger and striker – and that the lack of depth, particularly at left‑back, is a cause for genuine concern. In response, the club has moved quickly to secure the services of Couhaib Driouech, a talented winger from PSV, for a fee reported to be around £6.5 million. McInnes said that bolstering the team’s defensive solidity and widening the options on the flanks were top priorities, but he also stressed that the loss of a player of Chermiti’s calibre forces the club to reassess its attacking plans. "We don’t have an array of options defensively.
We don’t have a left‑footed defender in the building and we’re keen to try and get that resolved as quickly as possible," he explained ahead of Thursday’s European tie. He went on to describe the situation as "playing with fire", noting that the injury list now includes several defenders. "The good thing is we’ve got the ability to react to it and hopefully we can react positively," McInnes added, hinting that the recruitment department is working around the clock to bring in suitable replacements. The timing of Chermiti’s injury was particularly unlucky, as it came just hours after Rangers reportedly turned down a sizeable offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
McInnes made it clear that the club had no intention of parting with the young forward during the summer window. "The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of it for us," he said, emphasizing the striker’s importance to the team’s long‑term ambitions. He lamented the abrupt change in fortunes for the player, who went from "flying high" with a full season ahead to confronting a serious setback.
Looking ahead, McInnes said the club is actively scouting for a new number nine, acknowledging that finding a high‑quality centre‑forward is always a challenge. "The number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get," he remarked. He outlined the profile he is after: a forward with pace who can replicate the dynamism that Chermiti offered, someone who can stretch defenses and create space for teammates. Rangers currently sit on a solitary point after two league games, and they trail 2‑1 after the first leg of the Europa League qualifying round.
The manager recognised the difficulty of the situation but remained pragmatic. "We understand that it’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows.
I got the job for a reason," he said, referring to his previous stint at Hearts. He also reminded supporters that a massive crowd of 50,000 will be in attendance for the upcoming European fixture, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
McInnes reflected on the broader picture, acknowledging that the season has not unfolded as smoothly as he had hoped. "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 confessed. He emphasized that the role of a manager involves navigating both highs and lows, and that these testing moments are what ultimately define a leader. "It defines you, and I think it’s up to us now to knuckle down, stay calm, work really swiftly in recruitment," he concluded. In summary, Rangers find themselves in a precarious position with a thin defensive roster, the loss of a promising striker, and a demanding schedule that includes both domestic and European commitments.
The club’s response has been to act decisively in the transfer market, securing a new winger and scouting for a replacement forward, while also seeking a left‑footed defender to fill the gap left by injuries. McInnes remains cautiously optimistic, believing that with the right signings and a focused approach, the team can weather the current storm and restore its competitive edge.