Rangers manager Philippe Clement says Senegal striker Abdallah Sima will be out “long term” after suffering a thigh injury at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The on-loan Brighton forward, who has scored 15 goals in 33 games this term, has not featured in the tournament. Clement expects to have an update on Sima, 22, by the time Rangers’ match at Hibernian on Wednesday finishes.
“The squad have proved they stand up when something happens. We will find other solutions,” Clement said. “It will be long term, that’s why I want to have the right information. I expect to have more news from my medical team [on Tuesday] or at the latest Wednesday,” added Clement as he previewed his side’s first Scottish Premiership game since the winter break.
Sima’s injury, coupled with a long-term knee issue for Danilo, means Clement’s only available strikers are on-loan Wolves forward Fabio Silva and Cyriel Dessers.
But the Rangers manager would not reveal if that means the club will look to sign an attacker in this window, nor would he be drawn on reports linking Nordsjælland midfielder Mohamed Diomande with an imminent arrival at Ibrox.
“I’m not speaking about positions or what we want,” Clement said. “There are also strikers in the building. Fabio has shown good things and Cyriel, if you are going to look at stats, is in a good way also.
“Everybody is working really hard on transfers. There are things that are interesting and I think are possible, so we will see. I’m confident we will do the things we are all aligned on.”
Clement said he wants 20-year-old midfielder Alex Lowry to spend the remainder of the season out on loan after Hearts’ decision to send him back to Rangers.
