Nigeria Players Abroad
Russell Martin uncertain over Cyril Dessers’ injury return timeline
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Rangers FC manager Russell Martin is facing an anxious wait over the fitness of talismanic forward Cyril Dessers, who was forced off with a knee injury during the UEFA Champions League second-leg clash against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.
The Nigerian striker’s injury occurred in the 54th minute of the match, forcing a premature substitution that disrupted the team’s rhythm.
Martin, speaking after the match, expressed his concern over the severity of the injury and confirmed that Dessers is currently wearing a knee brace while awaiting further assessment.
“It looks like a nasty one, so he’s in a brace now,” Martin said in his post-match comments to Glasgow Times.
“We’ll have to just wait and see over the next couple of days, have a scan and see. We’ll keep our fingers crossed it’s not too bad for a big man.”
Rangers are now gearing up for the upcoming Club Brugge clash in the Champions League play-off round, but Dessers’ absence is likely to leave a significant void in their attack.
His injury casts doubt on his availability for the crucial European fixture, leaving Martin to reassess his options in the final third.
The striker’s potential absence also comes at a challenging time, as Rangers are set to face Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup this Saturday.
With a demanding stretch of fixtures ahead, Martin and his coaching staff will be hoping for positive news on Dessers’ condition in the coming days.
Rangers fans will also be hoping that their star forward can make a swift recovery, given his vital contributions to the team’s attacking play so far this season.
