Rangers did one thing to Livingston that’s never happened in the Scottish league before.

Ryan Jack’s ongoing struggles to stay fit seem likely to bring his Rangers career to a close at the end of the season after Philippe Clement’s latest squad fitness update.

The 31-year-old midfielder began his first Light Blues encounter since mid-November,

a 3-0 success over Livingston at the weekend (3 February),

but the boss announced ahead of Neil Warnock’s visit to Aberdeen that he would not risk the Scot in the following game.

Jack returned injured from international service with Scotland before to his most recent nine-game layoff,

which includes the Viaplay Cup final victory while Clement was dealing with a midfield selection issue,

which continues a theme for him personally and at Ibrox in general.

The manager has frequently expressed his surprise at the severity of injury absences since taking over in Glasgow,

and he did so again when he outlined his optimism that backroom personnel will be able to get Jack fit to play consistently,

something he acknowledged hasn’t happened in previous seasons.

Speaking to Football Scotland on February 5, the Belgian stated:

“There is only a little recovery time between the two games. I will not take any risks with him right now.

In the coming weeks and months, we will work with our medical and performance staff to strengthen him

so that he can break the pattern of injuries that he has been experiencing. That’s long-term planning.

“The players are all trying very hard to be accessible.

We need to rebuild them. However, it is encouraging that they are once again in contention for a spot on the team and the opportunity to play.

Of sure, I’m happier today than when we had 11 players out.

But it was also a predicament I had never encountered before in my life.

“I’m used to having teams in which practically everyone is fit because we work hard to create that environment.

So that’s what I want for the future: not to be in that circumstance anymore.

So it isn’t happy about it. Getting them there remains a difficult task.

“We will use all of the tools in and around the building to attempt to obtain that (Jack playing on a daily basis).

It is something that has not happened in the last few years. So it’s a good challenge.

You know, we have obstacles not only in the rankings, but also outside of them.”

When fit, Scotland international Jack is more than capable of being a key player,

but with his contract ending in the summer,

his frequent lack of availability is significantly decreasing his prospects of receiving an extension.

Jack’s availability issues continue at the Rangers.
He has never played more than 2,000 SPFL minutes in a season since joining Rangers in 2017,

despite doing so in each of the previous four with Aberdeen, and has failed to break the 1,500-minute mark in each of the last two seasons [Transfermarkt].

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