Rangers will be boosted for their do-or-die Europa League trip to face Real Betis with the Spanish club suffering a huge double blow.
The Ibrox side travel to Spain next week needing to win to clinch qualification as group winners, or secure second by matching Sparta Prague's result against visitors Aris.
But they will be handed a big boost because Real Betis will be without two of their key players for the match now.
Their 80-time capped Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho has been ruled out until Christmas after picking up a hamstring injury.
Betis president Angel Haro said: "We don't know an exact date of return, but it seems that we are going to lose William until Christmas.
"It looks like something very serious and he will be out for two or three weeks at least."
And Argentina World Cup winner Guido Rodríguez is also out through suspension.
The midfielder who was in the squad for Argentina's win in Qatar last year was booked against Sparta Prague again and will miss the showdown with Rangers.
It leaves Betis particularly short in the midfield because they didn't register two midfielders, Chadi Riad and Sergi Altimira for European competition.
