RANGERS are set to be handed a boost with one top star reported to be close to a return to full training.
The player has endured a nightmare time with injuries since moving to Ibrox in July 2022.
Tom Lawrence missed most of last season with a serious knee problem before returning in pre-season.
The 29 year-old then suffered more misfortune when he picked up another knock in the Europa League win over Real Betis.
Former manager Michael Beale initially felt it was just cramp that would see Lawrence miss only a couple of games.
It soon became apparent, however, that it was more serious than that and the playmaker is yet to return to the fray.
That wait, however, could soon be coming to an end, handing new boss Philippe Clement with extra firepower for the matches ahead.
The Rangers Review reports that Lawrence is “poised to return to full first team training” and that the player is “set to push for a recall to Clement’s matchday squad over the upcoming fixtures”.
The Belgian had said after being appointed as Beale’s successor that he was concerned with how many Rangers players were on the treatment table.
Jose Cifuentes and Kieran Dowell were both in the squad for this afternoon’s win over Hearts and now Lawrence could be set to join them at training.
Their return, however, could be offset by losing Nicolas Raskin who was stretchered off in the second half and whose situation remains uncertain.
Clement said: “I didn’t see him yet so we need to make a proper assessment about that this evening or tomorrow with the doctors in hospital.
“I hope that it is not too bad because he has been important in the last couple of weeks and is a player with a lot of potential.”
Clement had saluted James Tavernier’s character as Rangers scored TWICE in stoppage time to beat Hearts.
The Ibrox skipper missed a first-half penalty but scored a second spot-kick in the 90th minute before setting up Danilo to head a last gasp winner.
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Clement said: “It is a big step forward for me and in that way Tav was an example today.”
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