Buddies boss Kearney laments loss of Hodson back to Gers after injury

LEE Hodson has returned to Rangers three months ahead of schedule.

The right-back was due to spend the rest of the season with Rangers’ Premiership rivals, St Mirren.

But it is possible he has played his last game for the Buddies after injuring his ankle against Celtic.

The Northern Ireland defender suffered a nasty ankle injury in a collision with Ryan Christie in last month’s 4-0 loss.

Hodson has returned to Ibrox for treatment and Buddies manager Oran Kearney admits it’s a big blow for his side’s fight for Premiership survival.

He said: “Lee is back at Rangers now and won’t be available again for at least eight to ten weeks.

“It was a bad one at the time and it was only the fact he had a strapping on his ankle that saved him from more damage.

“He’s got away with it, all things considered, even though he’s still going to miss ten to 12 weeks.

“Lee had been playing well at the time and his versatility will be a miss as he was able to fill in on a number of positions.”

There was some good news for Kearney, with midfielder Kyle Magennis returning to training.

He added: “It’s great to see Kyle back out there.

“He’s only had a few sessions training on the pitch so he’s probably still a couple of weeks away.

“But he could be a key player for the run-in.”

Meanwhile, Danish club FC Nordsjaelland want Rangers coach Peter Lovenkrands to be their new manager.

Lovenkrands spent six years at Rangers as a player and has been in charge of the club’s reserve team since June 2018.

But according to Daily Record, the 39-year-old could be heading back to his homeland this year as he is on the list of potential managerial targets to replace outgoing Nordsjaelland manager Kasper Hjulmand.

And the former Danish international striker has admitted he would be interested in taking over at the Superliga outfit.

“Of course, I’d be flattered by any interest from FC Nordsjaelland,” Lovenkrands said.

“They’re my local club and being a manager is something I want to do in the future.

“But I love my job at Rangers and that’s all I’m focusing on right now.”

Lovenkrands moved to Ibrox from Danish side Akademisk Boldklub in 2000 and went on to win two Scottish titles, the Scottish Cup and three League Cups before leaving to join Schalke in 2006.

• FORMER Linfield youngster Chris McKee scored a hat-trick for the Rangers Under-17 side in their 7-0 victory over Tunisian side EES in the quarter-finals of the Alkass International Cup in Qatar.

McKee joined the Ibrox club from the Blues last summer on a three-year deal and the 16-yearold clearly has an eye for goal. Ankle woe: Lee Hodson has returned to home club Rangers after being injured while playing on loan for rivals St Mirren