'Not the ideal thing' - Clement provides Cortes injury update after Rangers v Hearts

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has spoken after Oscar Cortes was forced off with a knee injury in their Premiership opener against Hearts.

In his press conference following the 0-0 draw at Tynecastle (3 August), Clement explained that Cortes did his best to continue in the second period after a knock to his knee in the first-half.

Cortes was tested by the club’s doctor and said he wanted to carry on, but didn’t last long in the second half and was replaced by Rabbi Matondo having pulled up early with the injury.

In quote reported by the Rangers Review, Clement said: “I cannot say at the moment.

“He said that he was fine for the second half. With his first sprint, he felt too much pain so we had to take him off – it’s not the ideal thing.

“Knowing your body, what you can do and what you cannot – that’s part of the journey of young players to get a better assessment.”

Rangers will hope Oscar Cortes injury doesn’t provide setback

Having brought Cortes back to the club on another season-long loan – with a £4million permanent switch lined up next summer – the Colombian is clearly a player Clement sees as a long-term asset.

Tje 20-year-old starting despite having spent much of that loan spell injured was a show of confidence from the Belgian, but the Colombian may have had too much confidence in himself following his first-half knock.

While the stakes are always high at Ibrox, the first game of the season is hardly the time to be risking further injury by pushing through the pain barrier, and Cortes has been a victim of that.

Matondo playing out the rest of the match place does give Clement a similar option out wide, but given the Welshman is one player who could still leave the club before the transfer window shuts [Rangers Review, 27 July], the Gers will want a timeline on Cortes’ return date as soon as possible.

In other Rangers news, chairman John Bennett gave a brief outline of when the club could return to Ibrox next season.

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