Rangers FC Midfielder Joe Aribo will miss Saturday’s clash with Aberdeen – and may not see any further action until after the international break, including Nigeria’s friendly against Brazil.
Aribo was subbed off midway through the first-half in the League Cup win at Livingston, with a serious head injury which required 20 stitches from club doctor Mark Waller.
Speaking at the Pre-game Presser on Thursday, Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard updated: “I’ve not spoken to him this morning (Thursday). I spoke to him late last night and he was okay – he was pretty sore and pretty shocked really.
“I don’t think he envisaged going away with 20 stitches in his head – but he is okay. He is coming in this morning to be assessed by the doctor again, and he did a fantastic job on him as the cut went right through to the bone, so there were a lot of layers inside which needed to be stitched, and that’s the reason why he had 20 stitches.
“So we are disappointed for him. He is going to miss some games now moving forward and we will have to see how many.
“I am sure the doctor will decide in the coming days how many that will be, but he certainly won’t be available for the weekend and it could have an impact on the Europa League, next week’s fixtures and maybe international too as it is right in the centre of his forehead.
“So, I suppose it will depend on what type of protection in the coming weeks we can get to him and how comfortable he is as it is in a real, awkward spot.”
The 23 year-old was named in Nigeria’s 23-man list for the international friendly against Brazil on October 13, but the midfielder’s latest injury casts a serious doubt on his availability.