Rangers £5m Midfielder Set for Six-Week Injury Lay-Off: Can Derek McInnes Solve His Midfield Crisis?

Rangers have suffered another frustrating injury setback at a crucial stage of their season, with Cammy Devlin expected to miss around six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Celtic. The midfielder’s absence presents Derek McInnes with a significant selection challenge as Rangers attempt to maintain their recent improvement and build momentum in the Scottish Premiership.

The timing could hardly be more inconvenient for the Ibrox club. Rangers had started to find consistency, recording important victories against their biggest rivals and putting together a promising run of results. However, Devlin’s injury means McInnes must now reconsider his midfield options ahead of a demanding series of fixtures.

For a team with ambitions of challenging for the league title, losing a midfielder for six weeks is never ideal. The coming matches will test Rangers’ squad depth, tactical flexibility and ability to cope when important players are unavailable.

Devlin has provided McInnes with another option in the centre of the pitch since arriving at Ibrox. His energy, work rate and defensive contribution have made him useful to the manager, particularly when Rangers need greater intensity in midfield.

Now, however, the Australian midfielder faces a period on the sidelines, leaving McInnes with the responsibility of finding a suitable replacement.

According to reports published on October 8, McInnes confirmed that Devlin would be out for approximately six weeks with a hamstring strain sustained during Rangers’ 1-0 victory over Celtic at Parkhead. The injury does not require surgery, but the recovery period means the midfielder is expected to miss several important matches.

The manager will be hoping that Devlin can return without complications, but Rangers must concentrate on the players available to them in the meantime.

Dan Neil and Nicolas Raskin appear well placed to play important roles in the midfield during Devlin’s absence. Both offer qualities that could help Rangers maintain their competitive edge, although McInnes will need to manage their workload carefully.

Neil’s ability to contribute in possession gives Rangers an option when attempting to control matches, while Raskin offers energy and aggression in the middle of the pitch. Their partnership could become increasingly important as the club navigates the next stage of the campaign.

However, expecting two players to carry the entire midfield workload throughout a busy run of fixtures would be risky. Rangers need to ensure that their remaining options are ready to contribute when called upon.

The manager must also consider the tactical consequences of losing Devlin. Replacing a player is not simply a matter of selecting another midfielder and expecting the team to function in exactly the same way. Different players bring different strengths, and McInnes may need to adjust his approach depending on the opposition.

Rangers have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, and the priority must be to avoid allowing this setback to interrupt that momentum.

The encouraging news is that Devlin’s injury does not appear to require an operation. That should provide some reassurance to supporters, although the club will still need to manage his rehabilitation carefully.

Dujon Sterling has also returned to training after dealing with a minor hamstring problem of his own. His availability gives McInnes another option elsewhere in the squad and could help reduce the pressure created by the injury situation.

The manager will nevertheless have to make important decisions about how best to distribute minutes and preserve the fitness of his remaining players.

Rangers cannot afford to apprach every match with the same midfield combination if fatigue begins to affect performances. Rotation may become necessary, particularly if the team continues to compete across several competitions.

For supporters, the main concern will be whether the squad has sufficient depth to cope without Devlin. The midfielder’s absence may not be enough to derail the season, but it creates a challenge that McInnes must address immediately.

The next few weeks will reveal how effectively Rangers can manage the situation. If Neil and Raskin establish a reliable partnership, the team could continue to perform well despite the setback. If injuries or fatigue affect either player, however, McInnes may need to consider alternative combinations.i

There is also an opportunity for other midfielders to demonstrate their value. Players who have struggled to secure regular involvement could find themselves with an opening to impress the manager.

That is an important aspect of building a competitive squad. Injuries are an unavoidable part of football, and successful teams need players who can step in without causing a dramatic drop in performance.

McInnes will be hoping that his squad responds positively rather than becoming distracted by the absence of one player.

Ultimately, Devlin’s injury represents a test of Rangers’ depth rather than a reason to abandon their plans. The club has made encouraging progress, but maintaining that improvement will require careful management, disciplined performances and contributions from players across the squad.

The six-week estimate gives Rangers a clearer idea of the challenge ahead. The focus now shifts to finding the right midfield balance, keeping the available players fit and ensuring that the team continues to collect important results.

If McInnes gets those decisions right, Rangers could navigate this difficult period without losing momentum. If he struggles to find an effective replacement, Devlin’s absence could become a more significant problem than initially expected.

For now, Rangers must concentrate on the matches ahead while allowing their injured midfielder the time he needs to recover properly. The coming weeks will provide a clearer indication of whether McInnes has enough depth and flexibility to keep his side moving in the right direction.