Rangers forward Abdallah Sima to be out injured long term after AFCON blow

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has revealed that he expects Abdallah Sima to be out “long term” after the forward picked up a thigh injury.

Sima has been at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal but hasn’t played for his country and Rangers are still waiting to learn the full extent of the issue.

“I expect to have more news from my medical staff later today or at the latest tomorrow,” Clement explained. “If you ask me, I can give a better answer after the game tomorrow.

“It will be long-term. That’s why I want to have the right information.”

The news comes as another blow to the Belgian boss as he looks to deliver success at home and in Europe this season. Having already seen key players ruled out since arriving at Ibrox, he has faith that others can step up and help to fill the gap left by a player who has scored 15 goals in 33 games this season.

“The squad have proved they always stand up when something happens,” he said. “Other players do the job and we’ve had really positive solutions in that way.

“We’re going to go for that and we will find other solutions.”

Those solutions could include new signings, with the club already having recruited Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves and close to adding Nordsjaelland midfielder Mohamed Diomande.

Clement wouldn’t comment on Diomande, saying that he would talk about players when deals are done. But he did confirm that the club was actively looking at recruitment before the January window closes.

“Everybody is working really hard on it,” he said. “I think there are things that are interesting and are possible but we will see.

“I don’t speak about many rumours because there has been how many, 50 names in the last couple of weeks?

“If you start to talk about one rumour you need to talk about the other rumours and then I am only busy about that and not making training any more or looking at players or talking to my own players, so I never do that.”

The manager’s priority is Wednesday’s Premiership match away against Hibs, putting him up against the same opposition Rangers defeated 4-0 in his first game in charge at Ibrox.

Clement insisted that game would have no bearing on Wednesday but said the team had progressed in his time in charge since.

“I think it’s clear for everyone that the team has made steps forward but that doesn’t mean anything for this game,” he said.

“I know we had a good win in that game, although the difference between the teams was not as big as the result was and we need to be honest about that.

“We know it’s a team that plays really good football and a team that makes good combination, with fast wingers who make good individual action.

“They have players up front who can score goals and we need to play a good game there.”