Derek McInnes has cautioned that Rangers are essentially "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 will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after picking up a groin strain in the dying moments of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership loss to Hibernian.

In the same match, forward Youssef Chermiti suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for a "significant period of time" and further compounding the squad’s problems. The injuries come at a particularly inopportune moment, as Rangers have endured a winless start to the campaign and are already scrambling to reinforce several areas of the team. McInnes admitted that the club needs immediate assistance in the full‑back, winger and striker positions.

The first new signing to address these gaps appears to be Couhaib Driouech, a winger who is expected to join from PSV for a fee in the region of £6.5 million. McInnes explained that bolstering the defence and adding quality on the flanks were top priorities, but the loss of a player of Chermiti’s calibre means the club also has to re‑evaluate its attacking options. Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok, the Rangers boss reiterated the urgency of the situation.

"We don’t have an array of options defensively. We don’t have a left‑footed centre‑back in the squad and we’re keen to resolve that as quickly as possible," he said.

He added that the team’s depth issues were forcing the club to operate on a razor‑thin margin. "I do think that with the numbers we have, we are playing with fire – a couple of defenders are already injured. The good thing is we have the ability to react, and we hope to react positively." The timing of Chermiti’s injury was especially awkward.

It came just hours after news broke that Rangers had turned down a substantial offer from Galatasaray for the young striker. McInnes was clear that the club had no intention of letting the player leave during the summer.

"The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of our project," he said. "One minute you’re flying high, you have a full season ahead of you and loftier ambitions, and then an injury like this comes along." McInnes also spoke about the broader challenge of finding a suitable replacement for a traditional number nine. "The number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get.

We will try to find a player who complements what we already have up front, ideally someone with the pace that Youssef offered," he explained. The manager acknowledged that the market for a true centre‑forward is thin, and that any new signing will need to fit seamlessly into the existing tactical framework.

Rangers have collected only a single point from their opening two league fixtures and now face a daunting task in the Europa League, trailing 2‑1 from the first leg against Jagiellonia. McInnes reminded everyone that football is rarely a smooth ride.

"I got the job for a reason, and I understand it’s not always sunshine and rainbows," the former Hearts manager said. "We will be playing a European game in front of 50,000 fans tomorrow.

There are many changes, a lot of squad turnover, and it hasn’t been as straightforward as I hoped." He went on to stress the importance of resilience and swift action in the transfer market. "It defines you as a manager – you have to cope with the difficult times. It’s up to us now to knuckle down, stay calm and work quickly in recruitment," McInnes added.

The manager’s comments underline the precarious position Rangers find themselves in: a thin defensive line, a key striker out for months, and a pressing need to bring in new talent while maintaining competitiveness on multiple fronts. In addition to the on‑field challenges, the club is also looking to engage its supporters through various media channels. Fans can stream the Scottish Premiership via NOW, watch live matches on Sky Sports, and even take part in promotional activities such as the Super 6 competition, which offers a chance to win £250,000.

These initiatives aim to keep the fan base energized despite the early-season setbacks. Overall, McInnes’s message is one of urgency mixed with optimism.

While the injury list has forced Rangers into a precarious position, the manager believes the club’s infrastructure and recruitment capabilities give them a fighting chance to turn the tide. The upcoming Europa League tie will be a crucial test of the squad’s depth and resilience, and the next few weeks in the transfer window will be decisive in determining whether Rangers can shore up their defensive frailties and replace the attacking spark that Chermiti provided before his unfortunate injury.