‘We are playing with fire,’ says Rangers boss Derek McInnes as he pleads for new players amid Ibrox injury crisis
Rangers boss Derek McInnes admits the club are ‘playing with fire’ amid an injury crisis which has left them desperately short of bodies at the start of the new season.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s crucial Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok in Glasgow, McInnes stressed the need for urgent reinforcements.
PSV winger Couhaib Driouech is poised to become the club’s latest new recruit, with a £7million deal nearing completion.
Driouech will become the club’s tenth summer signing, but the loss through injury of Youssef Chermiti and Tuur Rommens this week has come as a hammer blow.
Chermiti is unlikely to kick another ball this season after suffering an ACL injury in the 2-1 defeat to Hibs at Ibrox last weekend.
McInnes confirmed yesterday that Rommens could also be out of action for up to eight weeks after picking up a groin strain.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes admits he is worried about his side’s defensive options
It leaves Rangers desperately short of cover, particularly in the left side of defence, as they seek to overturn a 2-1 deficit against the Poles at Ibrox tonight.
‘We are really short on numbers,’ admitted McInnes, who saw midfielder Mohamed Diomande seal a £6million move to Turkish Super Lig outfit Corum last night.
‘We need a left-sided defender and we are keen to get that resolved as quickly as possible. With the numbers we have got there, we are playing with fire.
‘Hopefully, we can react positively and quickly, because I think that is important. There have been a number of conversations. Defensively, there has always been a bit of concern.
‘Andrew [Cavenagh, chairman] has already come out and said that we are going to get a significant number of players in. Hopefully, we can get those in.
‘Obviously, a couple of injuries to key players have set us back, but conversations are ongoing every day.’
Chermiti has travelled to London to see a knee specialist, whilst Rangers hope Rommens won’t be out of action for too long.
One player who has checked OUT of Ibrox is Mohamed Diomande, who has moved to Turkey
Asked for a timeline on the injury to the Belgian left-back, McInnes said: ‘Worst case, probably six to eight weeks. Best case, four to six weeks.’
On the addition of Driouech and potentially another striker given the injury to Chermiti, McInnes added: ‘We are trying to get wingers in. It’s in the hands of the recruitment team.
‘Obviously No 9s are the hardest ones to get. We are looking for a bit more pace at the top end of the pitch and I know we are working hard to get as close to that as possible.
‘It has changed a wee bit now in terms of the Youssef injury. That is obviously something we are going to have to zone in on. We are working hard and looking at options.
‘It is up to us now to knuckle down, stay calm and work really swiftly in recruitment.’
Diomande, who made 121 appearances across his two-and-a-half-year spell at Ibrox, will join up with former Hearts winger Alexandros Kyziridis at ambitious Corum, who were last season promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history.
