Auchenhowie latest: Rangers star misses first-team training amid new injury fear - report

Ryan Naderi has not been involved in Rangers‘ first-team training this week as concerns grow about his thigh injury.

Rangers signed the big striker in the January transfer window in a bid to add more firepower to their attack.

The Gers had multiple bids knocked back by Hansa Rostock before securing the 22-year-old’s services for a reported fee of £4.7million.

The 6ft 4in forward netted his first Scottish Premiership goal on Saturday as Rangers won a nerve-jangling encounter with Dundee United 4-2 at Ibrox.

Naderi went off injured at the break in that Rangers match and now reports are surfacing about the severity of the issue.

Rangers fans face nervy wait on Ryan Naderi

Naderi has had to bide his time at Rangers, in terms of a goal, with the youngster failing to score in the league in his first seven outings.

He led the Rangers line in the Dundee United victory, but Naderi looks set for a spell on the sidelines now.

Naderi is likely to have a scan on his thigh injury this week, and according to Read Rangers, the striker has been present at The Rangers Training Centre (Auchenhowie) and is moving “unaided” but has not taken part in first-team training.

The report adds that if Naderi has a mild strain or contusion, his thigh could recover in one to two weeks. More moderate injuries can last between three and six weeks, and a severe tear or rupture can sideline a player for three months or more.

For Naderi, that could see him return for Rangers’ first post-split fixture at home to Motherwell on 26 April, but Sunday’s clash at Falkirk comes too soon.

Read Rangers adds that the extent of the injury could see him return to face Jens Berthel Askou’s side later this month. In a worst-case scenario, he may not be back until pre-season.

If he is out for an extended period, Rangers may have to rely on Youssef Chermiti, Bojan Miovski, or tactical changes during their crucial title run-in.

Naderi’s concerning injury history

During Naderi’s time with Rostock and Borussia Monchengladbach, the forward suffered torn muscles on multiple occasions.

During his four spells on the sidelines, he was out for as little as two matches and then up to 17.

A separate muscle injury ended his season with Rostock last term, with a March problem keeping him out until September.

Rangers, who are hoping Naderi’s injury isn’t too serious, are within one point of league leaders Hearts heading into the final game of the first phase of the league season.

Five more crunch matches after that will determine who lifts the title. If Rangers want to emerge victorious again for the first time since 2021, they may need Naderi back as soon as possible.

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