Lawrence Shankland, the captain of Rangers, is expected to be sidelined for up to four months while doctors decide whether he needs an operation. Manager Derek McInnes confirmed that the 31‑year‑old forward has suffered a recurrence of the same problem that first flared up during his loan spell at Hearts last season, an injury that kept him out for roughly nine weeks at the time.
So far this campaign Shankland has found the net four times in ten appearances for the Glasgow side, but his season was abruptly interrupted when he was forced to leave the field early in Saturday’s 1‑0 home victory over Motherwell. His substitute, Ryan Naderi, went on to score the decisive goal, preserving the win for Rangers. In the lead‑up to the upcoming Premiership fixture against St Mirren at Ibrox on Wednesday night, McInnes provided further details: "He’s had his scan and it’s confirmed he’s suffered a tear. It’s a grade‑2C tear, very similar to the one he picked up at Hearts in January.
He’s currently in London undergoing an ultrasound and a follow‑up scan so the specialists can decide whether surgery is required or if the injury can be allowed to heal naturally, as it did previously." The manager added that a clearer picture should emerge after the specialist consultation, which is expected within the next 48 hours. "If surgery is the route we take, we’re looking at an additional three to four weeks of recovery.
Even without an operation, the lay‑off period is significant. In the best‑case scenario we’re talking about three months; in the worst‑case it could stretch to four months. The London appointment should give us more certainty about the timeline," McInnes said. While Shankland’s absence is a blow, Rangers have already bolstered their attacking options.
On the final day of the transfer window the club secured the signing of Kevin Kelsy for a reported £9 million, providing a high‑profile alternative up front. Nevertheless, the team has also been hit by another serious injury: young forward Youssef Chermiti is out for an extended period after sustaining an ACL rupture.
Bojan Miovski, who arrived from Girona last summer, has struggled to cement a regular place in the starting eleven despite a respectable return of 13 goals across all competitions in his debut season, averaging a goal roughly every 142 minutes. By comparison, Naderi’s strike rate for Rangers last season was a goal every 203 minutes, while Shankland’s scoring frequency under McInnes at Hearts was an impressive one goal every 86.5 minutes. McInnes stressed the importance of supporting injured players and acknowledged the impact of losing two proven goal‑scorers at the same time.
"Having both Lawrence and Youssef unavailable is a major setback because they consistently deliver goals at Premiership level. However, setbacks create opportunities for other squad members, as we saw on Saturday with Ryan’s winner and Kevin’s introduction into the side." He also highlighted that the squad still possesses quality options: "We have Bojan Miovski, who knows how to operate in this league, so it isn’t all doom and gloom. Still, the news is disappointing for us and the fans." In summary, Shankland’s injury is a recurrence of a previous tear, and the forthcoming scans in London will determine whether surgery is needed. The manager projects a recovery window of three to four months, with the best‑case scenario leaning toward three months.
Rangers have already reinforced their attack with the acquisition of Kevin Kelsy and still have other forwards such as Bojan Miovski and Ryan Naderi who can step up. The club will need to adapt quickly to maintain its competitive edge in the Scottish Premiership while hoping for a swift and complete recovery for their captain.