OPINION
Rangers have never been overloaded with striking options this season. Indeed, for much of the campaign the attacking load has fallen squarely on Alfredo Morelos’s enigmatic shoulders.
Now, the situation has worsened immeasurably. Morelos is still out due to a suspension, and now Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed that two more strikers could potentially miss Saturday’s clash with St Johnstone.
“[Jermain] Defoe has had tightness in his hamstring, [Kyle] Lafferty has had tightness in his calf,” he said at his pre match press conference, as per the Scottish Sun.
“They will do part of the session today and hope they come through. We have pulled young Dapo Mebude back from international duty just in case. It’s a concern. But we’ve got good attacking players.
“We may have to find a different way. We’ll see how the next few hours go and hopefully they pull through. They’re both confident and I’ll trust the players. I’ll give them both every chance of being available.”
This is a really desperate state of affairs for Rangers, and one that will leave the club’s supporters sweating buckets. The prospect of having no Morelos, Defoe or Lafferty on Saturday is not really worth thinking of.
That will leave the club without a recognised senior frontman, and could spell disaster in the team’s quest to keep pace with Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
Gerrard will be hoping for the best come Saturday morning, because otherwise his team could be in for a long hard slog against the Saints.