Rangers star Alex Lowry stretchered off after hat-trick in SEVEN goal cup thrashing of Dumbarton

Rangers star Alex Lowry suffered a blow in his bid to return to first team action after being stretchered off in tonight's B team win over Dumbarton - having scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 thrashing.

The attacking midfielder played from the start of the SPFL Trust Trophy second round match at Dumbarton Stadium and was having a stellar evening until the 86th minute when a crunching tackle from Ally Love resulted in the 19-year-old leaving the field on a stretcher.

Love was booked for the challenge and Lowry had to go off three minutes later.

Angry Gers B boss David McCallum said post-match: "It's hard to enjoy a brilliant performance when we have a boy who has done so well in distress.

"We are angry with the challenge."

It has been a frustrating couple of months for the Uddingston teen, having missed some of pre-season with Gio van Bronckhorst's side after picking up a knock.

He made a big breakthrough towards the end of last season and was part of the squad as Gers reached the Europa League Final in Seville in May.

The 19-year-old will have hoped to stake his claim further this season and was building his fitness back up, but the extent of his injury is unknown.

In tonight's match, Lowry hit his treble within 49 minutes, netting inside the eighth minute before slotting home a 16th minute penalty. He completed his hat-trick four minutes into the second half.

Charlie McCann, Zak Lovelace, Arron John Lyall and Stephen Kelly were also on target as the young Gers hammered the League Two side to progress to the third round.

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