Oscar Cortes to miss key Rangers games as injury rules winger out

Oscar Cortes is to miss Rangers’ Champions League qualifiers and league and cup matches after being ruled out for around a month with a knee injury.

The Colombia international had to be substituted early in the second half of Rangers’ Premiership opener at Hearts on Saturday and the Ibrox club were waiting to learn the extent of his injury.

Speaking ahead of the Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Kyiv, Rangers manager Philippe Clement revealed that Cortes is out for “4-5 weeks”.

Explaining that the knee injury came from “an unlucky fall,” Clement admitted the forward’s absence came as a blow.

“Oscar Cortes did not travel, he had a scan and he will be out for around four to five weeks,” he said.

“Of course, it is hard blow for him and for the team because he was coming back (after last season’s injury) and he is going to become an important player for the future of this club.

“I think the quality in our rehab is better than we had last season so he is going to come back and be important this season but we are going to miss him in these important weeks.”

A four-week absence would see Cortes miss both legs of the tie against Dinamo Kyiv, as well as the play-off round against FC Twente or Red Bull Salzburg if they progress to that stage.

On the domestic stage, he will also be absent for the League Cup match against St Johnstone and Premiership ship matches against Motherwell, Ross County and Celtic.

Robin Propper, who has just joined from Twente, is in the squad but Clement said that his move meant he had “a lot going on”.

“Robin Propper is fit but of course, when you come in there are a lot of things to do in that moment,” he said.

“I think Brexit doesn’t help in that way. I know from experience, you have to fill in so many papers to come and live in Scotland and you need to find a house and a school for your kids.

“There are a lot of things going on in his head also over the past week because he is just a few days with us so that is something to take into consideration for the game tomorrow.”