Rangers star Ianis Hagi may struggle to return before the beginning of NEXT season, according to the Romania manager.
The playmaker underwent knee surgery after suffering an injury during the Ibrox side's Scottish Cup win over Stirling Albion in January.
Rangers later confirmed Hagi would miss the remainder of this season in a blow to manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But Edi Iordanescu claims it could be as long as six months from now before the 22-year-old returns after speaking to him this week.
Iordanescu said: "I spoke to him twice and he may be unavailable for five to six months. It's very unfortunate for him.
"I don't want to put pressure on him to rush back, but of course, we need our best players for Romania.
"It's very unfortunate because Ianis was going through a really good period in his career. He had started to really prove he could do it.
"I've even spoken to his father about his injury too. I want to support lanis as much as I can. I have assured him I will be there for him when he is ready and we trust him to come back stronger. I told him to take all the time he needs. Even if he doesn't play immediately, he will be back in my squad.
"He's resigned to being out for some time, but he's very confident he will be back stronger. He's been good because it hasn't been easy for him with this setback.
"Look, there are two types of pressure - constructive and destructive and I have chosen to use the first one.
"It's destructive to compare his name with the players of the past. We have all been guilty in Romania of falling into this trap of comparisons and I think we would only harm him by doing that.
"I know he can't stand it when people compare him with the past. That's why I believe that our current group of players can make their own names."
