Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland will miss up to four months of action following a hamstring tear sustained during Saturday's 1-0 home victory over Motherwell. Manager Derek McInnes confirmed ahead of Wednesday's Scottish Premiership fixture against St Mirren that the 31-year-old forward may require surgery, with the club awaiting the results of a scan to determine the full severity of the injury.
The injury occurred early in the match against Motherwell, with Shankland signalling to the bench within minutes that he could not continue. According to McInnes's post-match assessment, the damage appears to be a recurrence of a similar problem the striker experienced while at Hearts earlier in 2026. Rangers fear Shankland could be sidelined for between 12 and 14 weeks, potentially missing around 15 matches before a possible return near Christmas.
Shankland has netted four goals in 10 Rangers appearances since his summer move from Hearts, where he had established himself as a prolific scorer. His absence will also impact Scotland's Nations League campaign, with the striker unavailable for matches against North Macedonia, Slovenia and Switzerland scheduled from late September through mid-November. The 31-year-old has scored seven goals in 22 international appearances, including three earlier this year.
How will Rangers replace Shankland's attacking threat?
The timing of Shankland's injury presents a significant challenge for McInnes, as Rangers are simultaneously without fellow striker Youssef Chermiti, who suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage against Hibernian last month and faces an extended recovery period. This dual absence leaves the club searching for goals at a critical point in the season.
Ryan Naderi, who replaced Shankland against Motherwell, capitalised on a goalkeeper error to score the winning goal. The German striker has netted three times in eight appearances this season, averaging a goal every 189 minutes since joining Rangers in January. By comparison, Shankland has averaged a goal every 146 minutes, demonstrating the gap in finishing quality between the two forwards.
Bojan Miovski represents another option, having averaged a goal every 148 minutes at Rangers, though he has struggled to secure consistent playing time. Big-money signing Kevin Kelsy, who arrived from Portland Timbers, will also be thrust into a more prominent role. The Venezuelan had a chance to make an immediate impact on his debut against Motherwell but showed limited composure, with his shot striking the crossbar. His record of 13 goals in 46 games—averaging one every 190 minutes—suggests he may not be an out-and-out replacement for Shankland's prolific output.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday noted that Shankland's presence would likely have yielded multiple goals against Motherwell, given the number of chances created. The side generated an expected goals rating of 4.28 but managed only a single goal, highlighting their vulnerability without their captain's finishing ability.
What impact will this have on Rangers' fixture schedule?
Shankland's four-month absence will see him miss a substantial portion of Rangers' campaign. Beyond the St Mirren visit on Wednesday, 10 September 2026, the club faces Celtic in the League Cup quarter-finals across the weekend of 12-13 September 2026, followed by a league encounter with the same opponent. Rangers have five matches scheduled for October, three in November and six in December, meaning Shankland could potentially return during the festive period if recovery progresses as hoped.
The injury also threatens to disrupt Rangers' domestic and European ambitions during a congested fixture list. McInnes will need to manage the attacking resources carefully while awaiting Shankland's return and Chermiti's recovery from his ACL injury.
What happens next?
The critical next step comes on Monday when Shankland undergoes a scan that will determine whether surgery is required and provide a clearer timeline for his return. Rangers will host St Mirren on Wednesday, 10 September 2026, as McInnes begins the task of adapting his attacking approach without his captain. The manager will need to decide whether to rely on Naderi, Miovski, Kelsy or a combination of the three to maintain the club's goal-scoring output during Shankland's extended absence.
Shankland's unavailability also means he will miss Scotland's Nations League fixtures, potentially affecting the national team's campaign during the autumn international window. His recovery will be closely monitored, with the hope that he can return to action before the end of 2026.
