Rangers striker Cedric Itten has revealed his season has been derailed by a mystery illness.
The Swiss forward's debilitating condition baffled medics and he admits it's affected his ability to play and train.
Under Steven Gerrard, Itten moved to Bundesliga side Greuther Furth on-loan last summer before being recalled by new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
And the 25-year-old insists the Dutchman slammed the decision to ship him out.
Itten said he has now overcome the illness, which he suspects may have been the aftermath of a Covid-19 infection.
He explained: "The whole illness thing really blew my mind. I wanted to eat, but I couldn't, I only ate soup and lost a total of four kilos.
"I didn't know what kind of illness it was. Neither the Rangers ' club doctors nor my girlfriend's father, who is also a doctor, could find an explanation.
"It's possible it was the aftermath of a Covid infection - I previously tested positive, even though I've been vaccinated three times. I was then in quarantine for ten days, felt good again, was back in fitness training before it knocked me out again.
"It's been a difficult time mainly because the training deficit at this point in the season means it is almost impossible to catch up, but I hope to play now.
"The manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, told me that he would never have loaned me out if he had been in charge at the beginning of the season."
