Rangers midfielder Cammy Devlin is officially out for around six weeks after picking up a brutal hamstring strain. This bombshell dropped just after that massive 1-0 victory over Celtic at Parkhead, a win that came with a hidden cost nobody saw coming. Talk about a gut punch when you’re riding high from an Old Firm triumph.
The Win Was Sweet, But The Price Is Steep
Remember those final moments against Celtic, when the tension was so thick you could taste it? That’s exactly when Devlin went down. The summer signing had to tough it out until the final whistle because Rangers had already burned all five substitutions. Manager Derek McInnes confirmed the diagnosis on Thursday, letting us know Devlin won’t need surgery, which is at least a small win, but six weeks without him? That’s a huge problem. Devlin came over from Hearts this summer and instantly added some much-needed depth, slotting in next to Dan Neil and Nicolas Raskin. Now? McInnes is staring down a serious midfield selection headache, especially with five grueling matches coming up before the November international break. How do you replace that kind of energy and presence when you’re already thin?
Dodging Bullets and Battling The Schedule
It’s not all doom and gloom on the injury front, thankfully. Dujon Sterling is back in training after his own minor hamstring issue, also picked up against Celtic. McInnes expects Sterling to be available for Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock, which is a massive defensive boost. Plus, all 13 players who went off for international duty are back in one piece, which is a huge relief. Seriously, dodging injuries on those trips? That’s like hitting the lottery. Shoutout to Minsu Kim for grabbing his first senior caps for South Korea and Ryan Naderi making his Czech Republic debut, but the main thing is they’re healthy and ready to go. Still, the upcoming schedule is absolutely brutal. Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday, then Aberdeen, Hearts, Dundee, and St Johnstone. Oh, and an Aberdeen semi-final at Hampden is also jammed into those five fixtures. McInnes can lean on the confidence from six straight wins and those back-to-back victories over Celtic, proving the defense is locked in. But losing Devlin rips out a crucial piece of the squad, right when fresh legs are gonna be non-negotiable across multiple competitions. McInnes needs to figure out this midfield without overworking Neil and Raskin, fast.
Next Up: Kilmarnock at Ibrox. Can They Hold The Line?
So, what’s the immediate answer? Sensible rotation. Not some wild tactical overhaul, but smart management of the squad. Neil and Raskin are gonna have to anchor that midfield, no question, and Sterling’s return eases some pressure elsewhere on the pitch. Rangers desperately need this balance to hold strong through this absolutely packed spell. It all kicks off on Saturday against Kilmarnock at Ibrox. Every single one of those upcoming matches is going to test this squad to its limits, and Devlin’s absence just made it a whole lot tougher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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