Nigerian defender Leon Balogun faces an uncertain spell on the sidelines after being forced off just 19 minutes into their match against St. Mirren at the SMISA Stadium.
The 36-year-old Balogun, who has been a cornerstone of the Rangers defense this season, was replaced by Robin Propper after attempting to play through the injury.
Balogun has featured more prominently this season than in the entirety of the last campaign, becoming a key player under head coach Philippe Clement. His early exit raises concerns over Rangers’ defensive stability as the team struggles to close a 12-point gap behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
BREAKING! Nasty Leon Balogun injury forces Rangers into ‘definite’ January rethink as he faces nervous sweat for Celtic clash 🤕https://t.co/3DKoNZUHOt pic.twitter.com/xoErWeBobO
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) December 26, 2024
Speaking after the 1-1 draw, Clement admitted he was unaware of the severity of Balogun’s injury, explaining that a detailed assessment would be conducted the following day.
“I don’t know yet, to be honest. I didn’t have time to speak about that. I had other things to speak about at half-time and after the game also,” Clement said. “The doctor will make an assessment tomorrow, so we will focus on that then. But it’s never a good sign if a player comes off in the first half.”
Balogun’s substitution highlighted the challenges Rangers face as they rotate their squad to prevent injuries during a demanding schedule. Clement noted the potential tactical consequences of losing Balogun early in the game.
“You need to make a change because maybe we missed that change in the second half to make the difference and to score the second goal and to win this game,” he added.
Rangers’ title ambitions now hinge on a consistent run of wins, but the uncertainty surrounding Balogun’s fitness adds another layer of difficulty. The club and its fans will be hoping for a swift recovery for the experienced defender as they prepare for the crucial weeks ahead.
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