Rangers handed huge Borussia Dortmund boost as Europa League foes see defensive injury crisis deepen

Borussia Dortmund's hopes of overcoming a two goal deficit at Ibrox on Thursday have dealt a further blow as their defensive injury crisis deepens.

The German side have announced that versatile defender Dan-Axel Zagadou will miss the huge return clash in Glasgow.

Rangers triumphed with a historic 4-2 victory against the Bundesliga giants at the Westfalenstadion in the first leg of the last 32 Europa League tie.

Dortmund bounced back with a 6-0 win on league duty on Sunday, but Zagadou was forced off with an injury in the first half of the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

He will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a torn muscle fibre in his thigh.

The news is a hammer blow for Dortmund who already have first choice defenders Thomas Meunier and Manuel Akanji sidelined.

It leaves Mats Hummels and Marin Pongracic as the only available senior centre-backs in the squad as they go head to head with the Scottish Premiership champions, though former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can can also play in central defence, as he did in Sunday's 6-0 win.

Sports commentator Derek Rae tweeted: "His injury is a “Muskelfaserriss im Oberschenkel” (muscle fibre tear in thigh). Will be out for several weeks."

The Frenchman's contract runs out at the end of the season.

Dortmund's Sporting Director Michael Zorc said earlier this month that the club see a lot of potential in Zagadou and also indicated that they want to extend his contract beyond the end of the season.

Zagadou has featured 13 times so far this season with the defender being unlucky to be struck with one injury after another.

For your chance to win HOME tickets to Cinch SPFL matches each week across ALL FOUR divisions just enter our competition below. You can