Cyriel Dessers Injury Update: Rangers Forward Could Return for Champions League Play-Off

Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers' injury is less severe than feared, with a potential return in the Champions League play-off against Club Brugge.

Cyriel Dessers' injury is "not as bad as everyone feared" and the Rangers forward could return in next week's Champions League play-off with Club Brugge, according to manager Russell Martin.

Martin's side lost 2-1 to Viktoria Plzen but won the third qualifying round tie 4-2 on aggregate, with Dessers going off in the second half in the Czech Republic. The Nigeria forward, 30, will miss Saturday's Premier Sports Cup visit of Alloa Athletic but Thelo Aasgard and Mikey Moore could make their debuts and Hamza Igamane may return.

Rangers host Brugge in Tuesday's first leg. "Cyriel's is not as bad as everyone feared so tomorrow will be too early but we're really hopeful he can be involved on Tuesday," said Martin. "Everyone feared the worst, the way he went off but it was a small issue but as nowhere near as it could've been. Bit stiff and a bit sore still but everyone will work really hard to make sure he's given every chance to be fit for Tuesday."

Martin would not be drawn on left-back Jefte's future, amid reports the Brazilian is nearing a move to Palmeiras in his homeland, or Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy, who has been linked with a move to Ibrox. "He's in this morning," Martin said of Jefte.

Rangers are yet to win a domestic game this season, having drawn 1-1 with Motherwell and Dundee in their opening two Scottish Premiership fixtures. Tuesday's loss in Plzen was Martin's first as Rangers boss but he has secured home wins over the Czech side and Panathinaikos as well as a draw away to the latter.

Under Philippe Clement, Rangers were knocked out of last season's Scottish Cup by lower league opposition as Queen's Park triumphed at Ibrox. Alloa are one tier below Queen's Park in League 1 and have won six out of seven games this term. "It was last season, it's completely gone some of them were probably part of that, I don't see any benefit in me bringing it up, really," Martin commented on the Queen's Park result. "We focus on this game but being better from Tuesday."

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