Katic eyes New Year return to Gers side
NIKOLA KATIC is on course e to hand Rangers a New Year boost.
The Croatian defender was dealt a hammer blow in July when he suffered an ACL rupture in training just three weeks before the Premiership campaign got under way.
Scans revealed Katic had torn ligaments and both meniscus in his knee.
The injury forced Gers boss Steven Gerrard back into the transfer market to sign Leon Balogun as a replacement and the Nigerian international has excelled.
But Katic, who targeted being back within six months from his injury horror, has stepped up his rehab. And he is now on course for a return some time in January.
The 24-year-old’s agent Ives Cakarun said: “All is going well. We hope Nikola will be ready for January.
“It was big operation, cruciate ligaments and both meniscus.”
Rangers face a hectic schedule in the new year and while the derby with Celtic on January 2 is likely to come too soon for Katic, there are also trips to face Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs as well as a home meeting with Ross County. y.
Katic has made 59 appearances since becoming one of Gerrard’s s first signings, from Slaven Belupo, two years ago.
The fans’ favourite spoke of his frustration at the timing of the injury earlier this season.
He said: “It’s possible the injury happened because of the extent of the break we had but we will never know.
“It’s certainly not the same training at home as with the team.
“The long break created d problems and if you look at Germany for example, we saw there were many injuries after the first game back there.”