{"id":261682,"date":"2026-09-09T07:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T07:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/09\/hes-outscoring-shankland-rangers-let-scotlands-future-no-9-go-for-free\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T07:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T07:07:11","slug":"hes-outscoring-shankland-rangers-let-scotlands-future-no-9-go-for-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/09\/hes-outscoring-shankland-rangers-let-scotlands-future-no-9-go-for-free\/","title":{"rendered":"He’s outscoring Shankland: Rangers let “Scotland’s future No.9” go for free"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Football is a cruel mistress at times, with Glasgow Rangers<\/a> skipper Lawrence Shankland<\/a> struck down by injury, just as he’d begun to find his groove at Ibrox.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following an initial slow start for the 31-year-old, Shankland had been the hero heading into Saturday’s meeting with Motherwell, scoring three goals in just two Premiership outings prior to that.<\/p>\n

Mere minutes into the weekend win, however, the Scotland international saw his recent momentum curtailed by a hamstring blow, now potentially facing three months on the sidelines as a result.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Russell Cheyne<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Even with Youssef Chermiti absent himself, the Gers do at least have options in the centre-forward ranks, albeit having potentially already let the perfect alternative leave for nothing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Rangers can replace Shankland after injury nightmare<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

With the Old Firm looming on Sunday, the news of Shankland’s lengthy setback couldn’t have come at a worse time, not least with the experienced striker typically so deadly against Celtic, netting eight times in just 16 meetings with the club to date.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"lawrence-shankland-ryan-naderi-rangers\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Jason Cairnduff<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Alas, this will be where Derek McInnes’ strength in depth is tested, with it fair to say the Light Blues have invested in this department, signing five strikers in just the space of 12 months at Ibrox.<\/p>\n

With Chermiti out of the equation, McInnes’ first-choice pick might well be Ryan Naderi, the German making an instant impression off the bench against the Steelmen.<\/p>\n

Still in the early days of his Rangers career, the 23-year-old’s record of six goals in 19 games isn’t too eye-catching, with the arrival of new man Kevin Kelsy set to provide intense competition for places.<\/p>\n

The \u00a39m Venezuelan<\/a>, who debuted last time out, has scored ten goals already in 2026 back in the United States, nine of which came in MLS for Portland Timbers.<\/p>\n

Throwing him into the mix in the derby might be a bit of risk, however, with there still forgotten man, Bojan Miovski, to consider, the Macedonian more similar in style to Shankland as a pure goalscorer.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Bojan-Miovski-Rangers\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 27-year-old has been restricted to just ten minutes of Premiership action this season, having scored 13 goals in a disappointing debut campaign for the ex-Girona and Aberdeen man.<\/p>\n

Quite who McInnes goes for remains to be seen, yet for all the investment at the top end of the pitch, Rangers might be rueing a notable departure of the recent past.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Rangers already offloaded Scotland’s “future number nine”<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Both since and prior to Alfredo Morelos’ exit, the centre-forward position has been such an issue at Ibrox, with a string of high-profile names failing to flourish in a Rangers shirt.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Selected Recent Rangers Strikers<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Games<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Dessers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

116<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Danilo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

76<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Igamane<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chermiti<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

44<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Miovski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Lammers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Fabio Silva<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Naderi<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shankland<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Be it Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers or Danilo, among others, far too many have underwhelmed amid this period of turbulence and managerial upheaval.<\/p>\n

Shankland, when fit and firing, should hopefully buck the trend, yet even then, the ex-Hearts man might not have been needed in the first place if Rangers had put faith in their academy ranks.<\/p>\n

\n \n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\n With Shankland sidelined, who would you most like to see start up front in the coming weeks?
\n <\/h3>\n<\/section>\n