Pedro Caixinha has revealed that Bruno Alves is undergoing intensive treatment in Spain with the same medics who treat Real Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Rangers centre-back was sidelined for the team’s 2-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Celtic at Ibrox on Saturday with a calf injury sustained four days earlier.
Alves, 35, jetted out to Spain ahead of the clash for treatment with the same physio who looks after his fellow Portugal international Ronaldo amid fears he could face weeks out with the problem.
But manager Caixinha revealed that Rangers have not given up hope that Alves could return for Friday’s Scottish Premiership clash away to Hamilton Academical.
“Bruno has a Grade One on his calf, so he’s doing an intensive programme with Cristiano Ronaldo’s physio in Madrid,” said Caixinha, as quoted by the BBC Sport website.
“He started on Friday and we hope to have him back on Monday to do tests to see if he’s able to play next Friday.”
OPINION
Alves’ deputy Ross McCrorie did as well as can be expected on Saturday. In the Ibrox cauldron, the teenager was calm, assured and at ease with the pressure of one of the world’s most intensive derbies. Caixinha has a good eye for a player and is not being overly hyperbolic by bigging up the 19-year-old, but Rangers need Alves back fit as soon as possible. The 93-times international has made a huge impact since joining Rangers this summer as part of a massive overhaul of the squad that endured a wretched return to the top flight last season. His pedigree and battle-hardened experience make him one of the team’s key players. Caixinha was slammed by Kris Boyd for sanctioning Alves’ Spanish retreat when he claimed the defender should have been supporting his teammates at Ibrox at the weekend, but if it helps fast-track the Portugese’s return, it will turn out to have been a smart move.