RANGERS will be without Leon Balogun for tomorrow's Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell after he picked up a head knock in Wednesday’s match at St Mirren.
The defender was forced off late on in the game at the SMISA Stadium, and new concussion protocols mean he will have to sit out the visit of the Steelmen to Ibrox.
Speaking at this morning’s press conference, boss Steven Gerrard explained: "Leon came off the pitch with a head issue and there are protocols now which we need to follow.
"I have spoken to the Doctor on that, and we will follow medical guidance and protocols, so he will be unavailable for tomorrow's game.
"We are hoping to have him available for the next one after the weekend.
"Jacko [Ryan Jack] is close but won't make the weekend."
The injury comes at a time where concussion in football is very much in the news, with the Scottish FA applying to IFAB to trial concussion substitutes in this year’s Scottish Cup.
Gerrard gave his backing to that, continuing: "As someone who sampled the MLS as a player, I know they are at the forefront in-terms of concussion and have been pushing it for a lot longer and have gone into it in more detail.
"So I certainly welcome the trials up here in Scotland. I know England are looking into doing the same things and the quicker we can move that forward, the better.
"We have to look after the welfare of the players - certainly when it comes down to head injuries.
"There has been a lot of talk of situations later on in life that head injuries can lead to in-terms of dementia, so I am certainly someone who welcomes developments in that area to improve the game, but certainly the welfare of the players as well."