Alan Hutton has described Tom Lawrence's injury setback as a 'big blow' and that it 'must be serious' but says it gives another Rangers star the chance to come in and step up to the plate.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed in his pre-Liverpool presser that the midfielder would be missing for months rather than weeks with a spell on the sidelines likely to last until after the World Cup Finals in Qatar. The free summer transfer hit the ground running following his move from Derby County and was quickly establishing himself in the starting team.
He was stepping up his return to full fitness after injuring his knee in a clash with Ross County at the end of August. His rehabilitation was on schedule but the 28-year-old sustained a new issue and will now have to start the hard work all over again. Speaking about Lawrence's extended spell out, Hutton told Football Insider: “It is a real setback.
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“It is a big blow for Rangers and for Tom himself. I think he was coming back in good time from his initial injury and he has picked up something else. It must be serious if they are talking months and not weeks.
“It is frustrating because you have done the hard work. You have been through the injury, you have fought your way back and you have done the hard graft. You then go back to square one. So he is probably feeling really frustrated but he is just going to have to take his time, there is nothing he can do about it now. The work starts over again.
“I really feel for him because he was probably one of the signings that hit the ground running and was doing well and making a difference. Big blow but opportunity for someone else to step up.“
Speaking about the midfielder early this week, Rangers boss Van Bronckhorst said: "Tom Lawrence's recovery went on schedule but he sustained a new injury this week. We have to wait to see how long he'll be out but it will be longer term. Probably more months than weeks.
"I don't think we'll have him back before the World Cup."
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