Philippe Clement declares Rangers players 'his children' as he addresses Abdallah Sima injury blow

Philippe Clement knows how it feels to suffer major heartache – and he’s determined to help drag Abdallah Sima out of the same black hole.

The Rangers boss is dealing with the huge blow of losing the attacker for the foreseeable future after Sima got crocked on international duty with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations. But Clement is well aware of the personal trauma for the borrowed Brighton star and he’s determined to help his man come back even stronger. It’s no secret the Belgian wants to land Sima on a permanent deal in the summer but he’s now facing the prospect of being without the forward for the next few months.

And the Senegal ace being forced home from a major tournament has brought back painful memories for him too. Clement was a stalwart in the Belgian side heading to the World Cup in 2002. But injury stuck for the former Brugge favourite in the Belgian Cup Final and it forced him on to the sidelines for the big one. Clement said: “I called with Abda after hearing the message.

“They are all my children. It is a big blow having an injury like that when you are representing your country in an important tournament and going out. I know those feelings. Been there, done that. So I have told him. I have to say he was more positive than I expected.

“It is also Abda is someone with a really strong mind and a really positive hardworking person. Of course he is disappointed, but he is already looking forward to working hard and coming back as fast as possible.”

Clement knows the agony all too well. He said: “We played the last game before the World Cup, a cup final with Brugge, and I got a tear in my hamstring. It was a serious injury. It was complicated because it was three weeks before the team went to the