GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST faces a defensive selection headache against Ajax after seeing ten Rangers stars ruled out of their Champions League clash at Ibrox.
The Dutchman confirmed on Monday evening that Ridvan Yilmaz will be sidelined until after the World Cup break as he comes to terms with the hamstring injury he sustained during the win over Aberdeen on Saturday.
The Turkish internationalist has now been added to a lengthy injury list that already included long-term absentees such as Filip Helander, John Souttar and Ianis Hagi.
Van Bronckhorst has lost the services of Tom Lawrence, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe in recent weeks and John Lundstram will miss the Ajax clash through suspension.
Connor Goldson faces several weeks out of action and the Group A fixture comes too soon for Ben Davies as Leon King and James Sands get set to line-up at centre-back.
Van Bronckhorst said: “We have Kamara coming back in the squad. Lundstram is not available because of suspension.
“Yilmaz will not be ready. He will be out for several weeks.
“Ben Davies didn’t train. Hopefully he will be involved at the weekend but [the Ajax game] will be too early.
“Yilmaz has a hamstring injury. It will definitely be after the World Cup. I don’t know how long exactly but he will not be involved in the remaining games until the break.”
The losses of Yilmaz and Davies have compounded Van Bronckhorst’s problems in defence as Rangers seek to finish on a high in Europe and maintain their domestic momentum heading into the Premiership shutdown.
Sands was an impressive performer against the Dons and will now join 18-year-old King at the back for the visit of the Eredivisie giants.
Van Bronckhorst said: “I think his performances in the last games are really positive. We had to switch positions a lot with Lundstram and Sands as a six or a centre-back but he is a very smart player and he can play either position.
“It is not ideal you have to move players so many times in the last weeks but we have to do it because of the injuries we have.
“I am really pleased with his performance and he is giving a lot of intelligence to the team with the way he plays with his passing with these positions.”
Rangers players out for Ajax match
Ridvan Yilmaz - injury
Filip Helander - injury
John Souttar - injury
Ianis Hagi - injury
Tom Lawrence - injury
Ryan Jack - injury
Kemar Roofe - injury
Connor Goldson - injury
Ben Davies - injury
John Lundstram - suspension
