Speaking to the media today to promote the Rangers Youth Development Company’s ‘Big Blue Jackpot’, the forward revealed he is now off crutches and is pleased with his progress so far.
He said: “I am getting there slowly. I got off the crutches this week, and it has been four weeks since my surgery, so things are looking good.
“I went back down to see the specialist to get a bit of feedback, and things are going in the right direction.
“The hamstring is healing well after the surgery. It was just a check-up to make sure everything was where it was meant to be and, as far as I am aware, everything is going in the right direction.
“It is hard to put a timeline on it. You need to see how it feels around that three or four-month mark, but everything will be under the physios’ supervision.
“I need to be comfortable going back out there, so hopefully it will be as quick as possible, but I cannot really put an accurate time on it.”
Shankland acknowledged the challenges of being away from training and matches, although the team’s recent form has helped make watching from the sidelines a little easier.
He added: “Just before I got injured, we went up to Aberdeen and got a good result, then Falkirk was another good result, and it felt like we had turned a wee bit of a corner.
“There was a feeling in the group that things had changed a bit in our favour, and the boys have really carried that on.
“There were a lot of good results there, and most recently the two derby wins, which was a great feeling for us. Obviously, progressing in the cup, getting the chance to go to Hampden and another win in the league — we are in a good place and we want that to continue.”
The captain remains involved with the squad throughout his rehabilitation and highlighted his relationship with fellow striker Youssef Chermiti, who is continuing his ACL rehab.
He added: “You need to be around the place and around the boys. When things are getting taken care of on the pitch, it makes your role a lot easier, and at the minute the boys have been playing really well.
“Me and Youssef get on really well. He is a great guy, and he has been handed a tough injury.
“It is important as a squad that we are all there for him to support him through that. He is making good progress as well, and as a group and as individuals, you just need to be there for each other and keep pushing each other.”
