Lawrence Shankland, the captain of Rangers, is expected to be sidelined for a period that could stretch from three up 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 during his spell at Hearts last season, an injury 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 involvement was cut short in Saturday's 1‑0 home victory over Motherwell.
He was forced to leave the field early, and his substitute, Ryan Naderi, went on to score the decisive goal that secured the three points. Ahead of the upcoming Premiership fixture against St Mirren at Ibrox on Wednesday night, McInnes elaborated on the situation: "He’s had his scan and the results confirm a tear. It’s a grade‑2C tear, essentially the same type of injury he suffered while at Hearts in January. He’s currently in London for an ultrasound and a follow‑up scan.
The purpose of these examinations is to decide, together with a specialist, whether surgery is required or if the injury can be allowed to heal naturally, as it did the last time." The manager added that a clearer picture should emerge after the scans and specialist consultations, which are expected within the next 48 hours. "If surgery is recommended, we’re looking at an additional three or four weeks of recovery. Even without an operation, the lay‑off will be significant.
In the best‑case scenario we’re talking about three months out; in the worst case it could be as long as four months. The appointment in London should give us more certainty about the timeline," he said. While Shankland’s absence is a blow, Rangers have already taken steps to bolster their attacking options.
On deadline day the club secured the signing of Kevin Kelsy, a forward who arrived on a £9 million deal. Moreover, Ryan Naderi, who stepped in and scored the winner against Motherwell, has shown he can deliver when called upon.
Nonetheless, the injury comes on the heels of another setback: young striker Youssef Chermiti is out for a "significant period" after rupturing his ACL. Bojan Miovski, who joined Rangers from Girona last summer, has also struggled to cement a regular place in the starting eleven.
In his debut season at Ibrox he netted 13 goals across all competitions, averaging a goal roughly every 142 minutes of play. By comparison, Naderi’s scoring rate last season was a goal every 203 minutes, while Shankland’s efficiency under McInnes at Hearts was exceptional – a goal every 86.5 minutes. McInnes summed up the club’s outlook: "We need to support our injured players as we always do. Losing both Shankland and Youssef, who are reliable goal‑scorers at Premiership level, is undoubtedly a setback.
However, injuries also create opportunities for other squad members. We saw that on Saturday with Ryan’s goal and Kevin’s introduction. We also have Bojan Miovski, who knows the league well, so it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s disappointing news, but we’ll adapt and keep pushing forward." The extended recovery period will force the manager to rotate his forward line and perhaps give more minutes to younger talents or recent signings.
In modern football, depth in attack is crucial, and Rangers appear to have several options to draw upon, even if none match Shankland’s proven goal‑per‑minute ratio. The club’s medical team will continue to monitor his progress closely, and fans can expect regular updates as the situation develops. In the meantime, the team will aim to maintain momentum in the league, relying on the contributions of the likes of Kelsy, Miovski, Naderi and any other emerging players to fill the void left by their captain’s injury.