Gio van Bronckhorst has predicted Alfredo Morelos will be back in action for Rangers "really soon" in a fresh injury update on the Colombian.
Last season's Europa League finalists are looking to recapture the Premiership crown from Celtic this term and they kick off their campaign against Livingston on Saturday. Van Bronckhorst is also aiming to join their Glasgow rivals in the Champions League group stages with two qualying rounds to navigate with the first leg against Union Saint Gilloise coming up next Thursday.
After success on route to Seville last term, hopes are high ahead of the new campaign and Morelos has been included in the squad for the third qualifying round clash with the Belgian outfit, despite not playing since March due to a thigh injury. However, the Ibrox boss has offered a positive update on the frontman going into the new campaign, but there are blows for Kemar Roofe and new recruit Rabbi Matondo ahead of the big kick-off.
Welsh winger Matondo had made an instant impact on pre-season with his electric pace catching the eyes of fans. Roofe has missed the majority of pre-season after being pulled from the training camp in Portugal due to injury.
Speaking ahead of the game with the Lions, the Rangers gaffer said: “Kemar is still out and obviously won’t be available tomorrow.
“Alex Lowry is fit but he is training with the B team at the moment to get more fitness and game time.
“Rabbi had his first individual session today and looked good. For tomorrow it’s a little short of time so he will be joining the group on Sunday to prepare for Tuesday’s game.
“Ridvan is travelling tomorrow to Glasgow. He is clear to play. He has had a normal pre-season with Besiktas so he will join the group on Sunday as well."
On Morelos he added: “He has been doing large parts of the sessions with us and he is looking stronger every day. Hopefully we can have him back in the squad really quickly and get him involved.
“We named him in squad for the first ties of the competition – Tuesday and then a week later – so hopefully he will get involved really soon.”
READ NEXT
