Rangers have suffered a ‘major blow’ after attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence picked up a serious injury, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The 28-year-old had made an impressive start to life since arriving from Derby County on a free transfer over the summer but now faces an extended period of time on the sidelines.
What is the latest news involving Lawrence?
Lawrence signed a three-year contract with Rangers back in July after his £27,000-per-week deal at Derby expired, allowing him to seek pastures new following their relegation to the Championship.
However, the Wales international has now been ruled out of action until the new year by his manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst after sustaining a fitness blow.
“His recovery went on schedule, but Tom sustained a new injury unfortunately this week. We have to wait (to see) how long he will be out, but I think it is going to be longer term,” Van Bronckhorst said.
“We are still diagnosing his injury, but I don’t think we will have him back before the World Cup.”
Lawrence last featured in Rangers’ 4-0 victory over Ross County on August 27, and Van Bronckhorst’s charges have lost four of their six encounters since then without him in the side.
What has O’Rourke said about Lawrence?
O’Rourke believes that Lawrence’s enforced absence will be a big disappointment for Van Bronckhorst, especially following his ‘key role’ in Rangers qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
He told GiveMeSport: “It's a big blow for Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst because Tom Lawrence had started the season really well for Rangers.
“He played a key role in them qualifying for the Champions League during the qualifiers, so to lose him is a major blow for Rangers if they want to continue in Europe beyond Christmas and also for the SPL title chances as well.”
How big a loss will Lawrence be?
Lawrence had already cemented himself as an important figure in Van Bronckhorst’s setup, registering three goals and two assists in nine appearances across all competitions.
His strike against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-offs proved to be pivotal, and his underlying numbers highlight his overall influence over proceedings.
As per WhoScored, Lawrence has averaged 1.8 tackles, 3.4 shots, and 1.8 key passes per league game, placing him in the top four for each metric when compared to his teammates.
Losing Lawrence will have come as a significant setback for Rangers, therefore, and Van Bronckhorst will be forced to try and fill the creative void he has left behind.