The midfielder had to go off midway through the first half of last night’s League Cup win at Livingston with a serious head injury which required 20 stitches from club doctor Mark Waller.
Speaking at this morning’s press conference at the Hummel Training Centre, boss Steven Gerrard updated: “I’ve not spoken to him this morning. 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.
“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.”
Gers play host to Aberdeen on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership, and the manager continued: “We are going into this fixture in a good place and there is confidence and belief, but sometimes, that can be a dangerous thing where you go in and just think the momentum is going to just continue.
“With the history of this fixture, Rangers players raise it against Aberdeen and vice-versa. They are on the back of a real, tough night at Hearts with the extra-time, and I am sure their players and staff didn’t want that, and we are on the back of a real, physical encounter at Livingston.
“It will be an interesting fixture, but it is one we are really looking forward to. Going in with too much confidence and too much belief can be a problem as well, so the players need to be careful and make sure that we try to find our level.”
The two sides faced each other on seven occasions last year, with Gers winning two, Aberdeen three and there being two draws.
Gerrard feels his side are more equipped, however, to deal with the Dons threat now and added: “We believe we are better, we believe we have improved and we are in a good place. I don’t know how many times we are going to play Aberdeen this year but they are all going to be tough games, home or away.
“But the players know what they are going to face. They know the challenge, they know the Aberdeen players really, really well and they know it will be tough for them.
“The respect is certainly there – but if we find our level and play our best, I am confident we can get the result we want.”