'It's a long one' - major Rangers injury blow as updates given on Connor Barron and Dujon Sterling

The Ibrox side have dragged themselves back into the Scottish Premiership title race with 10 wins out of 13 league matches since the sacking of Russell Martin and appointment of Danny Rohl.

One of the star performers during that run has been midfielder Connor Barron, who has started eight of the last nine league matches. The 23-year-old produced a man of the match display in the 2-0 win over former club Aberdeen in midweek, picking up two assists for the corner kicks which were converted by headers from Emmanuel Fernandez and Nico Raskin.

Barron limped off with a knee injury shortly before full-time and it has now been confirmed by head coach Rohl that the player will not be returning to action in the short-term.

"Barron's injury is a long one," Rohl revealed during his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Pittodrie for the second instalment of an Aberdeen fixture double-header, with the midfielder set to face up to “eight to 12 weeks” on the treatment table.

“It’s not just the player Connor, but also the relationship with Nico [Raskin] was very special,” Rohl added. “It was really fluid, they helped each other on the pitch. They dictate the rythmn and won a lot of balls. He will be missed but it’s time for other players to step in and take responsibility.”

Dujon Sterling also picked up a hamstring injury in Tuesday's win over the Dons during a second half cameo off the bench but his return timescale "won't be as long" as Barron's, Rohl confirmed, with a return possible in time for the visit of Dundee to Ibrox on January 25.

The German added: “This is football. Since I’m here, it’s a bit like a neverending story. When you have a team together, try to grow and give them confidence, and you can make the same starting XI, then you have new injuries.

“In the last couple of weeks we did well to find the solution, and again on Sunday this is what we have to do.”

January arrivals imminent

Rohl could have his first January signings secured in time for the trip to Aberdeen with deals for left-back Tuur Rommens and central midfielder Tochi Chukwuani close to being completed.

The Ibrox club is understood to have agreed a £3 million fee with Belgian side Westerlo for Rommens, while Chukwuani is set to cost in the region of £4m from Austrian outfit Sturm Graz.

“Hopefully, yes,” Rohl replied when asked about the prospect of having new arrivals in his squad at Pittodrie. “But then, of course, it’s a big decision. Maybe the new signings didn’t train so much with the group. You have to make sure they are ready and give them the right opportunity to show what they can do. Then it’s a big decision for me over the next 24 hours when they arrive.”