Derek McInnes walked into Friday’s press conference with plenty to say, and Rangers fans got a mixed bag before Saturday evening’s game with Dundee. Some of it lifted spirits. One piece didn’t.
Sterling is back for Rangers
Dujon Sterling has shaken off last week’s illness bug, and McInnes confirmed the full-back is available for selection. Cammy Devlin had been missing too, so every returning body counts.
Chermiti’s long road
Youssef Chermiti is a different story. He picked up a long-term injury in the first home match of the campaign two months ago, and nine months was the original estimate. McInnes says he “is doing really well”, though a long way remains, and an earlier return isn’t ruled out. Shankland is out as well, yet the other attackers have stepped up.
Now the main sting
Ross McCrorie has been ruled out for three months with a hamstring injury. Back at Aberdeen, McInnes called him a “Rolls Royce of a player”, which tells you how highly the boss rates him. Ibrox News relayed the update.
Can Rangers cope without McCrorie for three months?
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Ross McCrorie of Rangers is seen warming up during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Glasgow Rangers and St. Mirren at Ibrox Stadium on September 09, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Yes, but only if McInnes picks his fixes carefully. McCrorie matters because he does a bit of everything. He can sit in midfield, step into the back line and run all day, and managers love players who solve problems in more than one position. Losing that flexibility hurts more than losing a one-trick specialist, because McInnes can’t just slot a like-for-like replacement in.
Three months stretches across the heaviest part of the calendar. Hamstring injuries also have a nasty habit of flaring up again if a player rushes back, so I’d expect the club to be patient rather than gamble in December.
With Devlin working his way back and Sterling available again, McInnes has bodies to shuffle. The trick is balance. McInnes likes his sides aggressive and well-drilled, so whoever replaces McCrorie needs energy first and polish second. Starting a defender in midfield might cost Rangers some control, so I’d lean on Devlin once he’s fully fit.
The attack has coped without Chermiti and Shankland, which tells me the group has depth. If McInnes trusts his squad, Rangers survive this. If he panics and tinkers every week, the results will wobble.