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“I’m concerned” – Gerrard gives bleak centre-half update

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Rangers fans, and Steven Gerrard, face an anxious wait to find out the extent of Filip Helander’s injury after the Sweden international was stretchered off in the 2-1 win over St Johnstone.

The centre-half appeared to jar his knee trying to avoid clipping the heels of Michael O’Halloran and giving away a penalty after the Saints forward got the break of the ball from the initial challenge outside the box.

Speaking to Sky Sports, and reported by The Scotsman, the Gers gaffer was his usual honest self after the game and gave a worrying update for those of a Light Blue persuasion:

“I’m concerned. He’s with the doctors now. He’s got ice on it and is bandaged up. It doesn’t look good.

“But until we scan it and assess it in the next 24-48 hours time, we’re not too sure.

“Fingers crossed he’ll pull through, but we’ve got other defenders who’ll need to step up if he’s out for the short, medium or long term.”

Helander had picked up a knock playing for Sweden but played again after training on his own, I get the feeling, due to similar decisions that Gerrard has made in the past, that if Connor Goldson hadn’t been isolating, that he would have been rested for the mid-week Europa League tie.

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Rangers' Filip Helander in action with Celtic's Lewis Morgan during Scottish League Cup Final

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We know that he has to have his workload managed, last season he admitted that he has been on painkillers almost every day since his early 20s, it’s amazing that he has managed to get to the level he has with such physical limitations.

Hopefully the big man is back sooner, rather than later, being able to rotate Helander and Leon Balogun was one of the keys to our success last season, having such a key player missing for an extended period of time would be a huge blow.

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