NO ROSSITER RETURN UNTIL NEXT SEASON By Graeme Croser

PEDRO CAIXINHA last night confirmed that Jordan Rossiter will not be back in a Rangers jersey this season.

Signed by former boss Mark Warburton from Liverpool last summer, Rossiter has started just four games for the Ibrox club, the last of which came at Kilmarnock on August 26.

Warburton sent the stricken midfielder to the English FA’s HQ at St George’s Park in a bid to establish a cure for the back problem that has caused calf and hamstring issues for the 20-year-old (above). ‘Jordan is only going to start with us at the start of next season,’ confirmed Caixinha, who took over as manager last month. ‘He is now starting at a different phase, a different level to get ready for the start of next season.’

Formerly a captain of England’s Under-19 team, Rossiter’s capture was viewed as something of a coup by Warburton, who also recruited former Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar in advance of the club’s return to the Scottish top flight.

Kranjcar, too, has been sidelined for months, last playing in the 1-0 victory at Inverness in October before injuring his cruciate in training.

Caixinha expects the Croat, 32, to join Rossiter in the squad for pre-season.

‘Niko will be visiting the doctor on Monday and maybe will be clear to start working with the team,’ added the Portuguese. ‘He cannot play but at least he can start training with the team on a regular basis.

‘That means we can make a little bit of extra time in order to prepare him for the start of pre-season in a different way.’