Rangers boss Derek McInnes delivers realistic Youssef Chermiti injury return timeline

Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti is expected to remain out until next season after suffering an ACL injury, although a late comeback before the current campaign finishes has not been completely ruled out.

The forward sustained the serious injury against Hibernian earlier this season, leaving Derek McInnes without a player whose qualities could prove valuable to the Ibrox side.

While there had been some hope that Chermiti might feature again before the end of the campaign, McInnes has stressed that the 21-year-old still has a considerable amount of rehabilitation ahead of him.

Speaking about the striker’s recovery, the Rangers manager said: “Youssef is a long way off and we shouldn’t be putting him under too much pressure.”

McInnes acknowledged the mental challenge Chermiti faces during his lengthy spell on the sidelines, particularly as his teammates continue their work on the pitch throughout the winter months.

He explained that staying motivated while spending so much time in the gym can be difficult, but praised the striker for maintaining a positive attitude around the squad.

“The likelihood is that it’ll be next season before he’s back, but you just never know. He might come back for those last few games,” McInnes added.

The Rangers boss admitted that losing Chermiti was a significant setback, highlighting the talent and attributes the striker could have brought to his team.

However, he insisted that the priority must be helping the forward complete his rehabilitation properly rather than placing unnecessary expectations on his return.

McInnes is encouraged by Chermiti’s attitude and believes the recovery period could provide an opportunity for the youngster to improve physically and return with an even stronger mindset.

McInnes explains how Chermiti is handling his lengthy recovery

The Rangers manager revealed that he has been careful not to make every conversation with Chermiti about his injury, recognising how repetitive and frustrating those discussions can become for a player who is unable to feature.

McInnes said the striker appears to be coping well with the situation, while acknowledging that the road back to competitive football remains long.

Drawing on his own experience of dealing with a serious injury, the Rangers boss emphasised the importance of having supportive people around during rehabilitation.

He also praised the club’s medical department for helping Chermiti remain focused on the work required to get back to full fitness.

McInnes believes the forward can use this period to develop physically, build strength and return with renewed motivation.

He warned, however, that recovering from an ACL injury requires commitment and patience, with players needing to complete every stage of their rehabilitation rather than attempting to rush the process.

“You can cut corners with these types of injuries, but you’ve got to do the hard yards to come back even stronger and better than ever,” he explained.

Although a return during the closing stages of the season remains a possibility, McInnes made clear that there is no pressure on Chermiti to meet that target.

Instead, the striker will work through a series of rehabilitation milestones established by the club’s medical team, with his progress determining when he can resume playing.

For now, Rangers must prepare for the likelihood of finishing the campaign without Chermiti, while hoping the forward can make a full recovery and return to action next season.