When Abdallah Sima picked up that injury at AFCON, the nerves inside Rangers circles were certainly palpable.
In a stuttering first half of the season, the Senegalese forward had carried much of the goalscoring responsibility for the Ibrox side.
So much so that the Brighton loanee’s contribution of 15 goals had Rangers just about hanging on in the title race.
But with Abdallah Sima’s Ibrox teammates stepping up to fill that void in his absence – and grab the title momentum – the forward’s imminent return is monumental boost to Rangers’ title run-in.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Premiership resuming against Hibs, Philippe Clement revealed that Abdallah Sima is one of four players back in full training.
In a season interrupted by a series of major injuries, it represents a huge boost for the Ibrox side and fans will be eager to see the electric forward back in action.
But the Rangers manager has tempered immediate expectations – even if he’s backing Abdallah Sima to make a big impact in the final furlong.
“It’s important but of course he has been a long-time out so you cannot expect miracles from the start but he has shown his quality,” said Clement.
“He has his power, his pace, he has the appetite for goals, and he came back in a good way in the training. So that’s positive. It’s now building rhythm again, making him stronger again, and then he’s going to play an important part I think in this last two months.”
It’s not just Rangers’ Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup hopes which are on the line for Abdallah Sima in the months ahead either.
Both Rangers and the Senegalese forward’s camp have been clear he’d be eager to extend his stay in Glasgow but with Brighton paying £6m+ for the forward in 2021 any permanent move will likely cost the Ibrox side.
Heading into the final year of his contract with the Seagulls, there is room for a deal to be struck and the forward is believed to be in Rangers’ price range.
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