Danilo boost for Rangers amid 'crazy schedule'

Danilo has been limited to just two Rangers appearances this season

Danilo is closing in on a Rangers return after missing most of 2024 through injury.

The Brazilian striker managed two outings in August, having had surgery on a knee problem sustained last December.

However, the 25-year-old then required another operation having played just 23 times since his move in July 2023.

The former Ajax and Feyenoord player is now in training, with manager Philippe Clement saying: "He is back with the squad and we will see how fit he is.

"We follow the advice of the medical staff to do the right things with him. We adapt and build him up in a nice way."

Sunday's league visit to Kilmarnock is the first of seven games across a three-week period.

Ross McCausland, Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo are expected to be fit again soon, but Oscar Cortes is a longer term absentee.

"We need to work hard, recover correctly and be ready for this crazy schedule," said Clement.

"For everyone in our business, particularly those with European football, it will be a challenge."

Despite doubts over the sustainability of such a busy programme of matches, Clement is confident his side will progress.

"I expect our level to rise in the next couple of months," he said.

"Yes, there are steps made, but we still have to make several steps to get where we want to be.

“That's with staff, that's with players, that's with the board, that's with the investors, that's with everybody together, making things better.

"I've seen also that we lost things along the way when people left. So now you need to rebuild again, with players, with people from outside of the staff."

Kent well known to Clement

Clement, who has now been at Ibrox for over a year, was asked about a possible return for winger Ryan Kent after his release from Fenerbahce in Turkey.

"I don't go into rumours," was the reply before the Belgian revealed that he had previously tried to sign the 27-year-old.

"I have known the player for a long time," he said. "The moment he went to Rangers (in 2019) I was in talks to get him to Club Bruges."