Shankland targets early-2027 return after hamstring surgery as Rangers run continues
Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland says he should be back well before the season run-in after hamstring surgery, and admits watching the team's six-game winning run has made his absence easier.
Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland is targeting a return well before the end of the season after undergoing surgery on a torn hamstring. The striker has missed Rangers' last three matches and is projected to return early in 2027.
Speaking about his recovery, the 31-year-old said progress is being made and that a specialist visit provided encouraging feedback. He described the hamstring as healing well but said pinning down an exact date is difficult, with the three- to four-month mark likely to give a clearer indication of when he can return.
Shankland explained that he was comfortable opting for surgery once it was presented as the best course of action, and he hopes to be back around January, stressing that plenty of football will remain to be played. It is the first operation of his career, something he noted with some relief given he has reached 31 largely free of serious injury.
The forward admitted the rehabilitation period is difficult, with gym work replacing training and matches. Watching from the sidelines is especially hard, he said, but the challenge has been softened by Rangers extending their winning run to six matches in all competitions.
Shankland said he would far rather see his team-mates winning than losing during his spell out, and he believes the club is in a good place as it looks to maintain that form. Supporters have taken encouragement from the team's results without their captain.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
