Rangers manager Danny Röhl says the international break has left his squad dealing with a swelling list of injuries, with three regulars potentially sidelined for the rest of the year.
Centre‑back John Souttar was hurt in the warm‑up before Scotland’s World Cup qualifier with Denmark at Hampden and missed the 4-2 win that secured Scotland’s place next summer. Derek Cornelius, on loan from Marseille, was forced off early in Canada’s game with Venezuela after already missing the previous match because of a muscle problem. Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore, 18, also picked up a muscle knock while playing for England U19s.
Young midfielder Bailey Rice — who had not been part of Röhl’s first‑team plans — will require surgery. Portugal U21 striker Youssef Chermiti and backup goalkeeper Liam Kelly also returned from international duty nursing knocks.
Ahead of Saturday’s Premiership meeting with Livingston at Ibrox, when fringe options such as Clinton Nsiala and Emmanuel Fernandez could be considered, Röhl described the scale of the problem. He said he now needs a list because “we have a lot of problems,” and stressed he was proud of the players who represented their countries. He added that before the break the squad had “nearly no injuries.”
On individual situations, Röhl outlined the uncertainty around recovery times: Souttar and Mikey have muscle injuries and the club must wait to see how long they will be out. Cornelius is being assessed by a specialist for a muscle issue that “could be serious.” Bailey Rice is undergoing a significant operation today. Chermiti and Kelly are also described as “big question marks.”
Röhl gave a guarded estimate on timelines, saying he hoped Souttar and Moore might be available by the end of December but noted muscle injuries can vary widely — “it could be 25 days, it could be 40 days.” He suggested Cornelius could be out around four to five weeks, while acknowledging that could change.
There was more positive news on several players returning from prior problems. Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Rabbi Matondo have all made major progress in training and will likely need “one more bigger game” before rejoining the matchday squad. Findlay Curtis is back after a minor injury.
Reflecting on the situation, Röhl said international football is important and an honour for players, but as a club manager he wants to protect them. He said recent conversations with players have focused on finding solutions and giving opportunities to others to step up while the squad manages its injury challenges.