Rangers have been hit by a major injury blow with captain Lawrence Shankland facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The Rangers striker suffered a hamstring injury during the victory over Motherwell and subsequent scans have confirmed a significant 2C tear.
Manager Derek McInnes has admitted the injury could keep his captain out for several months, with surgery still being considered.
That would be a huge blow to Rangers at a crucial stage of the season.
Shankland has quickly become one of the most important figures in the Rangers squad, and losing his goals and leadership could force McInnes into an unexpected tactical adjustment.
The immediate positive for Rangers is that Ryan Naderi stepped off the bench to score the winning goal against Motherwell.
However, replacing Shankland’s influence over a sustained period will be a much bigger challenge.
Rangers are already dealing with concerns surrounding other important players, making the captain’s injury particularly damaging.
McInnes must now find a solution before the absence becomes a major problem.
The club could turn towards Naderi and new signing Kevin Kelsy for attacking options, but Rangers supporters will naturally worry about whether either player can consistently replace their captain’s production.
The injury has transformed what should have been a comfortable victory into a major concern.
For Rangers, the next few months could test the squad’s depth like never before.