Broadfoot out for 3 months...

[Frankie 8,843]

According to The Sun...

 

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3256068/Kirk-KO.html

 

RANGERS have been rocked by the news defender Kirk Broadfoot is facing THREE MONTHS out.

 

The Ibrox utility stopper was last night told by a top London specialist he needs surgery to repair an ankle problem.

 

Broadfoot, 26, has continued playing through the pain barrier with the agonising injury which first flared up weeks ago.

 

The Scotland star was hoping to learn this week that he didn't have to go under the knife.

 

But the former St Mirren ace was devastated last night after being told he must have an op.

 

He will now miss crucial domestic and European games.

 

The best-case scenario could see Broadfoot back in action within eight weeks.

 

But Walter Smith has been told to expect to be without the player for up to three months.

 

Broadfoot has filled in at a number of various positions but he'll now be lucky to be back in action by next March.

 

He's suffered foot and ankle injuries in the past but ironically this latest setback is on his other leg.

 

It's a hammer blow to the Ibrox manager who is already without a number of key men in his threadbare squad.

 

Madjid Bougherra, Andy Webster, Maurice Edu and Kyle Lafferty are all out crocked.

 

However, Nikica Jelavic is back in light training after ankle surgery and has set his heart on a New Year date with Celtic.

 

Rangers' �£4million hitman, 25, is on course to make the second Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox on January 2.

 

The Croat had four goals in six games before being tackled by Hearts' Ian Black in October.

 

He said: "My injury is getting better and better and I hope I can be fit again in January.

 

"I have only been walking with the physios recently but soon I want to be running and get back in to serious training.

 

"Normally you should not play for three months after an op so, with this being the case, the Celtic game will be my target.

 

"Right now I still need time but it would be nice to be back in the squad for this match.

 

"From the first game I think I showed I can play for Rangers and I can score a lot of goals.

 

"But I want to prove myself more and more here. This is only the beginning.

 

"I was unlucky to injure my ankle but this is no problem, it's only a few months."

 

Jelavic jetted back to his homeland in the aftermath of his Tynecastle trauma.

 

It was back in Croatia that he discovered the true extent of his injury - but welcomed the fact he was back among friends.

 

Jelavic said: "I felt pain but in the morning after the game I went back to Croatia where I had pictures taken of my ankle.

 

"The next day I found out it was ligament damage and I spoke with the manager and the medical staff and we decided together that it would be better for me to stay in Croatia.

 

"It was a very good decision for me and the club that I stayed over in Croatia and the treatment I had after the operation was also very good."

 

Meanwhile, Jelavic's wife is scheduled to give birth to their second child within a fortnight.

 

It'd be the perfect Christmas present for them both. Then he'd like nothing better to follow it up with a 2011 Old Firm win after missing out on the 3-1 victory at Parkhead.

 

Jelavic added: "I saw the Celtic match in a friend's house and it was a really good day."

 

 

I think a new centre back is a must in January.

[Zappa 0]

That's all we need!

 

Time for Ross Perry to step up??

[ascender 352]

I think a new centre back is a must in January.

 

I don't know Frankie, I think it depends on how much (if any) money WS gets to strengthen. I think our midfield is in more need of a new player with some energy and creativity than our defence needs another CB. I think we have more cover at CB if we sort out the full back positions as Papac can play in there too.

 

I suppose all this isn't helped by Webster's situation either.

[Frankie 8,843]

I don't know Frankie, I think it depends on how much (if any) money WS gets to strengthen. I think our midfield is in more need of a new player with some energy and creativity than our defence needs another CB. I think we have more cover at CB if we sort out the full back positions as Papac can play in there too.

 

I suppose all this isn't helped by Webster's situation either.

 

Webster is unreliable so should be sold and replaced. Papac, Broadfoot and McCulloch are not favoured by me for centre back with only one partner. Meanwhile, Weir surely can't play another season?

 

I do agree midfield is perhaps our priority but our defence has been poor this season so I'd like to see it strengthened.

[Yieldshields loyal 0]

Webster is really starting to annoy me - hes another Danial Prodan. No player should be injured as much as him after a full season last year.

If there's a problem between him and management, get him punted in January so we're not losing any more value on the guy.

[ascender 352]

I've no idea how Webster still has a contract with us.

 

Our defence does look more shaky, but I still think part of that problem is down to not having proper full backs. Its not as obvious in the SPL, but in every European match this season its stuck out like a sore thumb imo. I'd like to see us back to a traditional back line with guys playing on their preferred sides and in their right positions. That would be a good start

[Danny 0]

The Webster situation is bizarre. Arguably the second best defender in the SPL last season, certainly one of the best - not a single injury blah blah blah - soon as he returns to us he's on the treatment table and can't get a place on the bench. Again.