Derek McInnes has cautioned 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 dying moments of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership loss to Hibernian and is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
This setback compounds an already precarious situation, as Rangers have also been forced to intensify their search for a new striker following the serious ACL injury sustained by Youssef Chermiti in the same match. Chermiti’s injury is projected to keep him out for a "significant period of time," further depleting the squad’s attacking firepower. The early part of the season has been disappointing for the Glasgow side, with the team failing to register a win in its opening two league fixtures. McInnes admitted that the lack of depth across the back line, as well as in wide and forward positions, is a cause for concern and that the club must act swiftly to bring in reinforcements.
The first confirmed signing in this transfer window is Couhaib Driouech, a winger who is set to arrive from PSV for a fee reported to be around £6.5 million. McInnes highlighted that bolstering the defence and adding quality on the flanks were top priorities, but the loss of a player of Chermiti’s calibre also demands immediate attention. "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," McInnes said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok. He went on to explain the specific dilemma the club faces in the defensive department: "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.
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." The timing of Chermiti’s injury was particularly unfortunate, coming just hours after reports emerged 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 this summer, emphasizing his importance to the team’s future plans.
"The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of it for us," he remarked. "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." When asked about the club’s strategy for replacing the injured forward, McInnes acknowledged the difficulty of finding a suitable number nine.
"The number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get. 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," he explained. This underscores the broader recruitment challenge Rangers face: they need a player who can provide both goal‑scoring threat and the speed to stretch opposition defences. Rangers currently sit with just a single point from their opening two Premiership matches and head into the Europa League second leg against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, trailing 2‑1 from the first leg. The stakes are high, and McInnes is realistic about the hurdles ahead.
"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. He added a note of optimism about the upcoming European fixture, noting that a crowd of around 50,000 will be in attendance: "We're going to be playing a European game in front of 50,000 tomorrow." The manager also reflected on the broader transformation taking place within the squad. "There are a few, 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. It's part of being a manager.
There's 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," he concluded.
In summary, Rangers find themselves at a crossroads early in the campaign. Injuries to key defensive and attacking players have exposed a thin squad depth, prompting McInnes to describe the situation as "playing with fire." The club’s immediate response includes the signing of Couhaib Driouech and a renewed focus on acquiring a left‑footed centre‑back and a pace‑y forward to replace Youssef Chermiti.
With a crucial Europa League tie looming and a sluggish start in the domestic league, the upcoming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether Rangers can stabilize their defence, rejuvenate their attack, and get back on track in both competitions.