Rangers have been dealt a significant injury blow ahead of Sunday’s trip to Pittodrie, with head coach Danny Röhl confirming that in-form midfielder Connor Barron will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.
The Scotland international picked up the issue during Tuesday night’s 2–0 victory over Aberdeen at Ibrox – a match in which he once again underlined his growing influence by providing two assists from set-pieces.
Inside Ibrox exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Barron had been spotted at the Rangers Training Centre wearing a protective boot, but at that stage the full extent of the problem was unclear.
Now, speaking at his pre-match press conference, Röhl has confirmed the worst: Barron will miss a crucial chunk of the season and is not expected to return until at least March.
The timing could hardly be more frustrating for Rangers. Barron has been one of the standout performers during the club’s recent resurgence, playing a key role in four consecutive Premiership wins, including the statement 3–1 Old Firm victory at Celtic Park.
His energy, positional discipline and leadership at the base of midfield have been central to the balance Röhl has brought to the side.
The injury means Barron will miss Sunday’s return meeting with his former club Aberdeen, as well as Rangers highly anticipated title clash with league leaders Hearts on Valentine’s Day weekend.
He now faces a race against time to be fit for the next Old Firm showdown against Celtic at Ibrox on March 1.
For Röhl, the absence of Barron removes a player who has not only been performing consistently but has also grown into a leadership role during a critical phase of the season.
With Rangers closing the gap at the top of the table, losing such a key figure for up to two months is a major test of the squad’s depth and adaptability.
In Barron’s likely absence, Rangers are expected to reshuffle their midfield. Nicolas Raskin is the most obvious candidate to drop into the deeper holding role, with Mohamed Diomande and Thelo Aasgaard potentially operating further forward.
Dujon Sterling has also previously been used in midfield, but that option will not be available this weekend.
Röhl also confirmed that Sterling will miss Sunday’s match at Pittodrie after picking up an injury of his own. However, the German was keen to stress that Sterling’s setback is “not as long” as Barron’s, with the club hopeful he could return for Dundee’s visit to Ibrox on January 25.
Sterling has been another impressive figure in recent weeks, offering versatility, athleticism and reliability in multiple roles.
His absence, alongside Barron’s, further stretches Rangers at a time when fixtures are coming thick and fast and momentum is building.
The double injury blow also adds further context to Rangers January transfer strategy. With the club already exploring moves for midfield reinforcements, including Sturm Graz’s Tochi Chukwuani, Barron’s layoff underlines the importance of adding depth and protection in key areas.
While Rangers remain confident in the quality within the squad, the next few weeks will test their resilience. Pittodrie is never an easy venue, and with Hearts and Celtic looming on the horizon, Röhl will need his remaining players to step up in Barron’s absence.
For Barron himself, the focus will now be on recovery. Having established himself as a crucial part of Röhl’s evolving Rangers side, the midfielder will be desperate to return in time for the business end of the season – particularly with the Old Firm clash on March 1 firmly in his sights, especially as he looks to secure a spot in Steve Clarke’s Scotland side for this summer's FIFA World Cup in North America.
Rangers, meanwhile, must find a way to maintain their momentum without one of their most influential performers.