'My information is...' - Keith Jackson shares how long Rangers star has been managing injury

Ryan Naderi wants another scan on the injury he picked up at Rangers against Dundee United on Saturday.

The German striker was substituted at half-time at Ibrox on 4 April and there are now fears that he may miss the rest of the season.

While Naderi has reportedly been present at Auchenhowie, he hasn’t been involved in any first-team training.

Daily Record journalist Keith Jackson has revealed that the former Hansa Rostock attacker has possibly been managing an inflammation in his knee since the start of the campaign and it looks like he may be unavailable for the final six league matches.

Danny Rohl has relied on Naderi since his move to Ibrox in the winter transfer window and the number nine’s absence will undoubtedly be a hammer blow for the Glaswegian outfit.

Danny Rohl faces massive dilemma at Rangers after Ryan Naderi injury

If Naderi is indeed unable to play a part in the Gers’ title-chase, Rohl will be left with a decision over who replaces him.

The obvious choice would seem to be Bojan Miovski, who has come into a bit of form, but the North Macedonia international has been unreliable since returning to Scotland.

Naderi has mostly been playing alongside Youssef Chermiti, with the German ace often dropping deeper and being involved in build-up play.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Rohl slightly tweak the attack for the upcoming matches and play Thelo Aasgaard as the number 10, with Mikey Moore and Djeidi Gassama on the wings, rather than playing two up top.

Speaking on Hotline Live on 8 April, Jackson said, “The suggestions seem to be that Naderi has been told that the injury that made him come off at half-time at the weekend is significant enough that it will rule him out until the end of the season.

“I believe what’s happening now is he’s seeking a second opinion and another scan because this is an injury, my information is that he’s been carrying since the start of the season when he was in Germany. And he’s been managing it along the way. I think it’s just a niggle or an inflammation in his knee and now and again he feels it a bit and he obviously felt it in the first half.

“Obviously, checks have gone on since then, and it does look like potentially the worst-case scenario for him. That he’s not going to be able to play any part in the run-in.”

Youssef Chermiti can get the job done at Ibrox

Of Chermiti’s nine goals in the William Hill Premiership this season, eight have come against Hearts and Celtic.

If the Portuguese striker continues that trend post-split, Rangers will surely have a good chance of getting the better of two of their nearest rivals in the title race.

Games against Motherwell, Hibernian and Falkirk must be seen as finals by the ex-Everton attacker and his teammates, with the chance to win silverware in the Govan side’s hands.

Chermiti has been hit-and-miss in his debut campaign at Ibrox, but he does often turn up in the big games, which is what Rohl needs right now.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.