Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic will have surgery on ankle ligament damage suffered against Hearts on Saturday.
The £4m striker was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Hearts midfielder Ian Black.
After receiving lengthy treatment Jelavic decided to play on for 10 minutes but was eventually replaced by Kyle Lafferty.
No timescale has been set on how long Jelavic will be out of action but a two month absence is likely for that sort of injury.
Rangers spent most of the summer chasing the former Rapid Vienna striker who is cup-tied for the group stages of the Champions League.
A statement on the Rangers website read: “Following a tackle in Saturday’s game against Hearts at Tynecastle, Nikica Jelavic suffered ankle ligament damage that requires surgery. The striker will now miss a number of matches for the Club.”
There is some good news for Rangers with James Beattie likely to be available for the clash with Motherwell on October 16 .
The former England star will be looking to score his first goal since netting a double for Stoke City in the 2-1 win over West Ham on 17 October 2009.
Stephen Crainey’s Anfield century
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First of all…I don’t wish any player ill luck….
I was making a point to my mates last week about how Rangers seemed to be avoiding injury problems , given their “thin” squad….
now this comes along….they’d better hope that they don’t get any more….although the law of averages says they will…