Kris Boyd has ripped into Rangers for allowing Bruno Alves to fly to Spain for treatment of his calf injury rather than be at Ibrox supporting his teammates during the first Old Firm of the season.
The 35-year-old limped off the pitch during the Light Blues’ Scottish League Cup win at Partick Thistle on Tuesday night and was pictured boarding a flight to Madrid on Friday as he heads overseas for medical treatment.
The defender’s absence means that he will not be present for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership showdown against bitter rivals Celtic.
Ex-Rangers striker Boyd believes Alves should have gone to Spain on Wednesday immediately after sustaining his injury and should be at Ibrox to support his teammates and offer pointers to the likes of his replacement, the teenager Ross McCrorie.
“The fact he’s in Madrid is an utter shambles,” the Kilmarnock forward explained in his column for the Scottish Sun.
“There’s no other way to describe this situation, which, quite frankly, sums up everything that seems to happen at my old club these days.
“Whoever sanctioned his trip to Spain should hang their heads in shame. It’s an absolute disgrace.
“Let me tell you here and now, the Portugal international doesn’t need to be anywhere other than Murray Park for treatment to his injury.
“I’ve worked with the Rangers medical staff and they’re the best in the business.
“I know how it works. Players with injuries tend to get time off to get treatment. But he could have flown out to Spain on Wednesday morning and been back by now.
“Whether he was able to play or not, he could still have played a major part in this afternoon’s clash with Celtic.
“He could be sitting alongside young Ross McCrorie before kick-off and giving him help, advice and encouragement the kid may desperately need.
“At half-time he could be in the dressing room giving him pointers.”
OPINION
As usual, Boyd is not sitting on the fence with his view on the Alves issue. However, his points are valid and well reasoned ones. Why did Rangers wait three days before sanctioning Alves’ trip to Spain? A few days in the sunshine makes sense to rest up the injury, but – unless there is something we don’t know – it appears to be a fairly basic one that does not require specialist treatment and he could have gone on Wednesday morning and returned by last night. The Portugal international should be at Ibrox using his vast experience accumulated across 93 internationals and dozens of derbies to assist his teammates and offer some well-chosen words of advice.