Lawrence Shankland, the captain of Rangers, is expected to be sidelined for a period ranging from three to four months while medical staff determine whether he will need an operation. Manager Derek McInnes confirmed that the 31‑year‑old forward has suffered a recurrence of the same problem that first flared up when both he and McInnes were at Hearts last season, a setback that previously kept him out for roughly nine weeks. So far this campaign Shankland has found the net four times in ten appearances for the Glasgow side, but his season was abruptly interrupted during Saturday's 1‑0 home victory over Motherwell. He was forced to leave the pitch early, and his substitute, Ryan Naderi, went on to score the solitary goal that secured the win.

In the lead‑up to the upcoming Premiership clash with St Mirren at Ibrox on Wednesday night, McInnes provided further details: "He’s had his scan and the results confirm a tear. It’s a grade‑2C tear, very similar to the injury he sustained at Hearts in January. He’s currently in London for an ultrasound and a follow‑up scan, which will help the specialist decide whether surgery is required or if the injury can be allowed to heal naturally, as it did the last time." McInnes added that the next 48 hours should bring more clarity.

"If surgery is recommended, we’re looking at an additional three or four weeks of recovery. Even without surgery, the specialist will give us a clearer picture of the overall timeline.

In the best‑case scenario we’re talking about three months out; in the worst case it could stretch to four months. The appointment in London should shed light on the exact duration," he said.

The timing of Shankland’s setback is particularly inconvenient for Rangers, who have already been forced to cope with the loss of forward Youssef Chermiti, who is out for an extended spell after suffering an ACL rupture. The club did respond by splashing £9 million on striker Kevin Kelsy on the final day of the transfer window, and they also have Bojan Miovski in the squad, though Miovski has struggled to find a regular rhythm since arriving from Girona last summer. Statistically, Shankland has been a prolific scorer under McInnes.

In his previous season at Hearts he averaged a goal every 86.5 minutes, a remarkable strike rate that underscores his importance to the team. By comparison, Naderi’s average for Rangers last season was a goal every 203 minutes, while Miovski managed 13 goals in all competitions in his debut season at Ibrox, equating to a goal roughly every 142 minutes. These numbers highlight the scoring gap that Shankland’s absence creates. McInnes emphasized the broader impact: "We need to support him as we do all our injured players, but losing both him and Youssef, who are reliable goal‑scorers at Premiership level, is a significant blow.

However, setbacks for some become opportunities for others. We saw that on Saturday when Ryan stepped up and scored, and Kevin Kelsy got his first minutes on the pitch.

Bojan Miovski also knows the league well, so it’s not all doom and gloom, but it is certainly disappointing news." The manager’s comments underline the club’s strategy of rotating the squad and giving younger or newly signed players a chance to prove themselves when senior forwards are unavailable. The upcoming fixture against St Mirren will likely see a reshuffled attacking line‑up, with Kelsy, Naderi and Miovski all vying for minutes.

Rangers will also be hoping that the medical team can expedite Shankland’s recovery without compromising his long‑term health, as his leadership on and off the field is highly valued. In summary, Lawrence Shankland’s injury is a repeat of a previous tear, and while the exact treatment plan is still being finalised, the consensus is that he will be out for between three and four months.

The club’s depth in attack, bolstered by recent signings, should help mitigate the loss, but the captain’s goal‑scoring prowess and experience will be missed until he can return to full fitness.