Rangers head coach Michael Beale has confirmed that Danilo, Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell will all miss Thursday's Europa League group-stage opener against Real Betis at Ibrox due to injury.
Summer signing Danilo started and scored the opening goal in the Gers' 2-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, but the striker was forced off in the 19th minute after breaking his cheekbone.
Beale has since revealed that Danilo has undergone successful facial surgery and is not expected to return to first-team action until after the next international break in the middle of October.
The Rangers boss has also confirmed that midfielder Raskin, who played the full 90 minutes in the win against St Johnstone, has picked up a calf problem, while Cantwell, Kieran Dowell and Steven Davis are all still recovering from knee injuries.
Beale revealed before last weekend's win at McDiarmid Park that both Cantwell and Dowell are facing between three and four weeks on the sidelines.
© Reuters
Providing an injury update at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of Rangers' encounter with Real Betis, Beale said: "Nico Raskin is out with a calf problem – Raskin, Cantwell and Danilo will be missing. We still have options in midfield – we are losing a good player but we have good ones coming in.
"Danilo has had a successful surgery on the areas impacted. He will be back in non-contact training come the end of the international break. He had surgery on Monday so the speed in getting this done is good. He has been in great spirits since.
"We have numbers available in attacking players and we will be expecting them to show their quality in the team."
Beale added: "The injuries to Cantwell, Raskin and Danilo are not ideal – we hope Kieran Dowell will be back after the Livingston game (on September 27).
"We have academy players coming through and there might be opportunity for them in the domestic games coming up.
"[Jose] Cifuentes came in late to the team and has had good chances in several games, but has been unfortunate at times. The new players have been here long enough now and they are ready to go."
© Reuters
After Rangers endured a disappointing 2022-23 Champions League group-stage campaign, losing all six games and conceding 22 goals in the process, Beale has encouraged his players to "make up" for their disappointing efforts last season with a much-improved showing in this year's Europa League.
"The core of this team have re-established the club in Europe – there have been big nights home and away," said Beale. "We need to show that again and make up for last season and earlier disappointments.
"We need to get out the group and take one game at a time – we are facing good sides (in Betis). It is competitive but we are expecting to progress. The level is high in this competition and we hope it helps raise the level of our team. We want to have a good season in Europe.
"[Manuel] Pellegrini is experienced and has worked at the biggest clubs in the world – they are a good team. We will have to be at our best against them and take the game to Betis. The speed of the game is faster in Europe and it is different to domestic football. We need our squad and need to prepare well against difficult opponents.
"The fans want to see their team go for Real Betis and we will do that as best as we can. It is a high-quality game, we are looking forward to it and have been since the draw came out."
While Rangers have won just two of their last five games in all competitions, Real Betis enter Thursday's contest off the back of a heavy 5-0 La Liga defeat at Barcelona last weekend.
No Data Analysis info
