Injured Martyn Waghorn may return in two weeks for Rangers

Martyn Waghorn could be back in action for Rangers before the end of the month after a scan revealed his hamstring injury is not as severe as initially suspected.

Martyn Waghorn receives on-field attention after being injured against Hamilton. Picture: SNS.

The 26-year-old striker was in some distress, right, after sustaining the damage during last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Hamilton at Ibrox, but he now looks likely to be sidelined for as little as two weeks.

He could even return for Rangers’ trip to Kilmarnock on 26 August and should certainly be available for the first Old Firm match of the season on 10 September.

“It looks like it’s just a grade one hamstring tear, so hopefully he will be out for two or three weeks at the most,” said manager Mark Warburton.

“That’s good news because his reaction after the injury was quite severe but the scan is good news. Martyn is delighted. It calmed down a lot the day after the game. He’d got a knee in the back earlier in the game, so it looks like it might have been a spasm that caused the bulk of the pain.”

Warburton is still looking to sign another striker, along with another defender, this month and is even hopeful of getting one deal over the line before tomorrow’s Premiership trip to Dundee. “We could possibly do something before that game,” he added. “I’m just waiting for a phone call. Hopefully so. But if not before Saturday, then early next week.”

Warburton, meanwhile, dismissed speculation linking his full-back James Tavernier with a £2.5 million move to Turkish club Trabzonspor.

“We’ve heard nothing, we’ve had no contact,” said Warburton. “The club has had no contact whatsoever, nor has the player, nor has the agent.”