Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE KENT BELIEVE IT
Gerrard gutted at Ryan setback
STEVEN GERRARD last night admitted Ryan Kent’s hamstring injury is a Europa League body blow for his £7million star.
The Light Blues boss (above) was gutted at seeing the former Liverpool winger limp off during the comeback win over Livingston which will deny him of a key asset against Dutch side Feyenoord on Thursday night.
Despite a result which keeps his side three points behind Premiership leaders Celtic, Gerrard admits Kent’s enforced spell on the sidelines is a hard one to take.
He said: “It’s a blow for me, it’s a blow for the club and it’s blow for the supporters.
“He’s trained well all week and looked ready to go but unfortunately these things happen in football.
“That’s the only disappointment to come out of today but we’ll assess him in the coming days but I predict he’ll be missing for a least a few weeks.
“He knows it is a hamsting and hamstrings are not days unfortunately. They usually take a minimum of a couple of weeks. But we will get him back fitter and stronger and I am sure he will be a big help to us over the course of the season.”
The Gers, however, did return to winning ways at Ibrox as they came from behind to beat 10-man Livingston.
A dominant first half performance from the hosts – beaten so disappointingly in their last outing at home to Celtic – ended with former loanee Kent limping off in the 41st minute after pulling up in the Livi half.
The visitors then broke the deadlock from the penalty spot just two minutes into the second period.
Steven Lawless (inset) fired home from 12 yards after Lyndon Dykes had been tripped in the box by Scott Arfield.
But Rangers hit back through a James Tavernier free kick in the 55th minute before goals from Alfredo Morelos and substitute Brandon Barker – either side of Dykes’ sending-off – wrapped up maximum points.
Dykes saw red on 71 minutes when he picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Connor Goldson.