Derek McInnes has cautioned that Rangers are "playing with fire" after a spate of injuries has left the club with a very thin pool of defensive options. The Glasgow side’s manager disclosed that young centre‑back Tuur Rommens suffered a groin strain in the dying moments of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership defeat to Hibernian and will be sidelined for up to eight weeks. That setback comes on the heels of another blow to the attacking line‑up: promising striker Youssef Chermiti sustained a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in the same match, ruling him out for a "significant period of time".
These injury woes have compounded a difficult start to the campaign, with Rangers having collected only a single point from their opening two league fixtures. McInnes admitted that the squad is in need of reinforcement across several areas, specifically at full‑back, on the wings and up front. The club’s first confirmed signing to address the shortage is 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 defensive unit and adding width were top priorities, but the loss of a player of Chermiti’s calibre means the club must also act quickly in the forward department. Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League qualifying tie against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, the manager elaborated on the depth issue: "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 added that the lack of cover is especially worrying because two defenders are currently injured, leaving the team vulnerable in a competition where a single mistake can be costly. "The good thing is we have the ability to react to it and hopefully we can react positively," McInnes said, trying to inject a note of optimism into an otherwise precarious situation.
Chermiti’s injury came just hours after Rangers turned down a substantial offer from Galatasaray for the forward. McInnes made it clear that the club had no intention of letting the 20‑year‑old leave this summer, stressing that he was expected to be a key figure in the team’s plans. "The plan was for Youssef to be a big part of it for us," the manager said. He reflected on the cruel twist of fate that can accompany a footballer’s career: "One minute you’re flying high, you’ve got the whole season ahead of you and loftier ambitions, then obviously you have to deal with this injury." The manager also addressed the broader challenge of finding a suitable replacement for the departed number nine.
"Number nines are normally the most difficult ones to get," McInnes observed. "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 hinted that the scouting department is already working on a shortlist of forwards who can bring speed and directness to the Rangers attack. Rangers now face a crucial Europa League second‑leg encounter, trailing 2‑1 after the first match.
McInnes reminded his players and supporters that the road ahead will not always be "sunshine and rainbows". "I got the job for a reason," the former Hearts boss said, acknowledging the pressure that comes with managing a club of Rangers’ stature.
He highlighted the enormity of the upcoming fixture: "We’re going to be playing a European game in front of 50,000 tomorrow." The manager also spoke candidly about the extensive changes the squad has undergone since his arrival. "There are a lot of changes indeed, and 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 admitted.
He emphasized that dealing with adversity is part of a manager’s job description: "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." In summary, McInnes painted a picture of a club at a crossroads: injuries have exposed a lack of depth, especially in defence, while the loss of a key striker has forced the recruitment team to act decisively.
The arrival of Driouech offers a glimpse of progress, but the manager’s comments suggest that further signings, particularly a left‑footed centre‑back and a pace‑y forward, are likely to materialise before the transfer window closes. With a crucial Europa League tie looming and the domestic season still in its infancy, the Rangers hierarchy must balance short‑term fixes with long‑term planning to avoid falling further behind their rivals.