Philippe Clement has confirmed that Rangers defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo is facing a long spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury while on international duty – as he distanced himself from links with the Belgium job.
The Feyenoord loanee limped off after 68 minutes in the Netherlands U21s 1-1 draw with England after falling awkwardly on the pitch. The versatile defender has been invaluable to Clement in recent weeks and has often found himself in the team ahead of Gers captain James Tavernier. And while they are still waiting to learn the full extent of the injury, Clement reveals that the 22-year-old is going to be out for a considerable amount of time, with Rangers‘ Premier Sports Cup final date with Celtic less than a month away.
Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s clash with Dundee United, he said: “Kasanwirjo is going to have an appointment with a surgeon today, and we will have more news over the weekend – for sure a longer-term injury. A blow for everyone, especially for him. This is football, it is really hard as he was adapting really well.”
Rangers have however been boosted with the news that Turkish full back Ridvan Yilmaz is available for Saturday’s game while winger Oscar Cortes has returned to training. Rabbi Matondo has also been ruled out of the visit of the Tangerines and Tom Lawrence remains on the treatment table.
Clement has also shut down talk linking him the Belgian national team job. The 50-year-old has been touted as a possible successor to Domenico Tedesco after his former chief executive and mentor Vincent Mannaert was made sports director at the Belgian FA and a poor run of results under German Tedesco, who is now under serious pressure to keep his job. But Clement insists he is going nowhere.
But he said: “I was really clear that I said that I engaged myself for the long term to Rangers. And I’m not going to change my mind on that. So I think it’s very clear. I hope now in the future if something else comes, that you don’t come with this question anymore.”