Neraysho Kasanwirjo's Rangers season could be OVER as defender learns nightmare injury timeline

Philippe Clement's Rangers injury woes have suffered another brutal blow after it was confirmed Nana Kasanwirjo faces up to six months out.

The Dutch defender was forced under the knife this week having damaged knee ligaments while on duty with the Netherlands' Under-21 squad last month. Clement had been keeping fingers crossed that the on-loan Feyenoord ace might return this term. But that now looks hugely unlikely after he was recalled to Rotterdam to begin a gruelling rehab process.

Speaking after Rangers' narrow 1-0 win over St Johnstone in Perth, the Ibrox boss - who is already operating without key men Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes - said: “The operation for Nana was good, but he will be at least out for four to six months. So we cannot count on him. So we will see at the end of the season how things go.

"We have an agreement with Feyenoord that he will do his rehab also there. But I stay in touch with Nana, who was really disappointed not to continue the work he's been doing because he loves the club, he loves the dressing room, he even loves the staff - that doesn't happen much!

“So we will see at the end of the season how it will be with him, but we cannot count on him the next couple of months.”

Skipper James Tavernier was back in the Gers line-up having been benched for Thursday’s 4-1 Rivera rampage over Nice. Dujon Sterling had been the man given the jersey for that resounding Europa League victory but the injury-prone right-back was absent again in Perth due to a nerve issue.

The change didn’t disrupt the visitors, however, with Tavernier’s pressure forcing former Ger Jason Holt into bundling home an OG that proved to be enough to give Clement’s side the points. And Clement hopes to have