Injury puts Mathew Ryan’s Rangers trial on ice

Mathew Ryan, the Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper, has been forced to “indefinitely postpone” his planned trial stint with Rangers after picking up a shoulder injury in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

The knock is described as “minor” by the A-League club and he is expected to be back in action in time for this Saturday’s meeting with Melbourne Victory. However, the club’s website claimed that “both clubs have agreed that it is in Ryan’s best interests to remain in Australia under the care of the Mariners’ medical department for the foreseeable future”.

The proposed trial – which could tee-up a move for the player once Rangers’ transfer embargo ends on 1 September – earlier drew criticism from former Aston Villa and Manchester United keeper Mark Bosnich, who claims the highly-rated stopper should be setting his sights higher than Scotland’s lower leagues. The former Australia No 1 told Fox Sports News: “He’s going for a trial for the right to play Elgin City, Montrose, Clyde and Stirling and will miss the top-of-the-table clash with Melbourne Victory. This is one of Australia’s top talents and he has to go down to the fourth tier of Scottish football?

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“The Scottish Premier League, with the exception of Celtic isn’t as good as the A-League. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Meanwhile, Rangers skipper Lee McCulloch has revealed he may be forced to take a 
self-imposed break from first-team duties if he can not shake off a troublesome ankle injury. McCulloch said: “It’s just something I’ll need to have a look at and I know I need to do what is best for the team.”

Rangers have also confirmed Ross Perry is to see a specialist after sustaining a broken nose in the 1-1 draw with Elgin on Saturday.