Rangers rocked by Lawrence Shankland blow as captain set to miss Celtic ties after suffering 'Hearts' injury

Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland is set to miss the Old Firm double-header against Celtic later this month after suffering a “significant” hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Motherwell.

Shankland was replaced just six minutes into the match at Ibrox after he pulled up clutching the back of his leg. He hobbled off and was replaced by fellow striker Ryan Naderi, who went on to score the only goal of the game.

Shankland had scored three goals in his past two matches and was just starting to find his form with Rangers. The 31-year-old, who missed more than two months of last season with a hamstring injury while at Hearts, is now almost certain to miss the Premier Sports Cup tie at home to Celtic next Sunday and then the Premiership clash at Parkhead seven days later.

Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland comes off early during the 1-0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox. | SNS Group

The striker would also to be ruled out of Scotland’s upcoming Nations League matches against Slovenia twice, Switzerland and North Macedonia - the first games under new national team head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

McInnes revealed that Shankland reported a similar feeling in his hamstring to what he felt last term at Tynecastle and will now have a scan. “It looks quite significant, to be honest," said McInnes. “He got a similar feeling to the hamstring injury he had at Hearts last January when he was out for three months, so obviously we don't want to speculate too much. But he says it feels similar to in the same area, so we'll get him scanned on Monday.

“You know, his output was really high on Wednesday at Falkirk on the 4G. Sometimes going that from pitch to pitch can maybe make you a wee bit more vulnerable. But he says he felt fine going into the game, so, and there was nothing really that he did in the game that he was aware of, he just felt it pull up. So he says it feels similar to then, so we'll see how the scan shows on Monday.

“It’s a shame for the boy because he was obviously just in good form, getting himself moving and getting himself enjoying some of that attacking threat we've had over the last few games, and we've waited long and hard for that. So just a pity for Lawrence that it looks as if he's the next period is he's going to be sitting on the sidelines.”

Rangers have already lost a striker this season to injury, with Youssef Chermiti out for the long-term with an ACL issue. McInnes is glad to have further options in Kevin Kelsy, who made his debut against Motherwell, Naderi, Kim Minsu and Bojan Miovski.

“We've got good options,” said McInnes. “The squad's strong. I think the introduction of Kim to the team has helped us, and I think all of a sudden we look as if there's goals in us, We look as if we're creating chances, and you can start to see the team kind of develop a wee bit. So we're going to have to look at different options at the top end of the pitch, but it's options we have got, thankfully.”

On Kelsy’s debut, McInnes added: “Kevin was such a good bit of business. The club deserve a lot of credit for that. And I thought he came on and got to the pitch of the game really well. He's such a good mover, strong boy.

“There was obviously a temptation to bring him on after five minutes, but and much to the crowd's disappointment! But I had a conversation with Kevin yesterday. He said he felt a bit stiff and tight for the previous couple of days training and the fact that he travelled.

“So if he felt stiff and tight and not the right decision to start him, it's probably the right decision not to bring him on after five minutes and maybe exacerbate, put maybe more at risk the No 9 position.”