Injury Update: Rangers Face Livingston with Key Players Unavailable

John Souttar and Derek Cornelius will be sidelined for Saturday’s match against Livingston, while striker Youssef Chermiti remains a doubt.

**Scottish Premiership: Rangers vs. Livingston**
**Venue:** Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
**Date:** Saturday, 22 November
**Time:** 15:00 GMT

**Coverage:** Updates available on BBC Radio Scotland, with live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Rangers’ head coach, Danny Rohl, announced that Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore, and John Souttar will be unavailable due to muscle injuries. Additionally, Chermiti’s participation is uncertain following a recent setback.

Rohl also mentioned that back-up goalkeeper Liam Kelly is dealing with an issue, while young midfielder Bailey Rice may be out for an extended period due to surgery following a training injury.

“Before the international break, we had nearly no injuries,” Rohl stated. “John is out with a muscle injury, and we will need to monitor the situation closely. Mikey is also sidelined with a muscle injury, and it’s challenging to determine the recovery timeline at this stage.

“Derek is scheduled to see a specialist for his muscle injury, which could potentially be serious. Youssef’s situation is still unclear after he sustained a kick.

“I hope that John and Mikey can return by the end of December, but muscle injuries can vary significantly in recovery time, ranging from 25 to 40 days or more. As for Derek, I have my doubts regarding a quick recovery, and it could take longer than four to five weeks. Liam’s status is also uncertain.”

Despite these challenges, Rohl expressed optimism for the future: “I hope to see center-back Souttar and on-loan Leeds winger Moore back on the field before the end of 2025. I was pleased for both Souttar and Connor Barron for their contributions in helping Scotland qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.”

Defender Dujon Sterling, midfielder Kieran Dowell, and winger Rabbi Matondo are approaching returns after extended periods on the sidelines, while Findlay Curtis has returned from injury.

With Cornelius and Souttar unavailable, Nasser Djiga stands as the only regularly selected central defender for the upcoming encounter against Livingston. However, captain and right-back James Tavernier has previously filled in at center-back when needed.

Emmanuel Fernandez has made three appearances since joining the club in the summer, finding the net once.

“I’ve had productive discussions with several players in the last few days,” Rohl remarked. “This situation presents an opportunity for others to step up. It’s essential to find solutions, and I hope we can identify effective ones moving forward.”