The Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland spent Tuesday night in hospital after what he has described as “significant” internal bleeding in a leg. Butland will sit out Thursday’s Old Firm clash at Ibrox, with the longer-term availability of the former England player unclear.
Butland left hospital on New Year’s Day. A statement from his club said: “Rangers can confirm goalkeeper Jack Butland will miss tomorrow’s Old Firm match with Celtic. The goalkeeper suffered an internal bleed in his leg which required hospital treatment but he has since been released and is recovering. Everyone at Rangers wishes Jack a speedy recovery.” No timescale is being placed on Butland’s return.
The 31-year-old, virtually an ever-present since joining Rangers in the summer of 2023, published his own bulletin on social media. It said: “I really appreciate the messages, but it’s important the information is correct. I’ve suffered a significant bleed to my leg that needed hospital attention, thankfully that’s now under control and will lead to a full recovery hopefully sooner rather than later.
“Needless to say it’s come at an awful time and I was fully focused on helping us as a club. The most important thing now is supporting the lads and focusing on getting fit as soon as possible.”
Liam Kelly, signed from Motherwell in the summer, will deputise for Butland against Celtic. The identity of the Rangers captain for the derby is less clear, with James Tavernier, ordinarily the skipper, also injured. Butland would have deputised.
Philippe Clement has multiple selection troubles, given the influential centre-back John Souttar is also absent and another defender, Leon Balogun, is a huge doubt. Rangers trail Celtic by 14 points in Scotland’s top flight.
