RANGERS LEFT BLACK AND BLUE

But Gerrard says medical staff are not to blame for spate of injuries

STEVEN GERRARD last night insisted his Rangers medical staff are not to blame for Saturday’s spate of injuries.

The Ibrox boss saw four of his players fail to finish the 4-0 home win against Dundee United.

Defender Leon Balogun was replaced in the starting line-up by Filip Helander after the Nigerian international felt a quad muscle tighten during the warm-up.

Ryan Jack and Brandon Barker both went down inside the opening 20 minutes with calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

Then striker Alfredo Morelos, who had replaced

Barker, was caught in a shocking studs-up challenge by United defender Ryan Edwards and stretchered off with a nasty gash on his knee. Now Gerrard, who has told sporting director Ross Wilson he wants the button pressed on new transfers as a result of the injuries, insists the preparation work put in by his staff was not the reason for the issues involving Jack, Balogun and Barker. And he is hopeful Balogun and Morelos will be fit to face Lincoln Red Imps in Rangers’ opening Europa League qualifier in Gibraltar on Thursday. Gerrard said: ‘It’s something that we will certainly look into but, in terms of preparation and trusting how my staff go about things, this is the first time we have had a day like this when things have gone against us. ‘I don’t think we can do anything about Alfredo’s injury. ‘We think Leon will be fine. We think we got it before it was an injury. It was a bit of tightness and we made the right decision to take him out of the team. ‘We have come away with two injuries rather than four, but let’s see how the next few days go.’ Rangers’ victory over United saw Gerrard’s side break Celtic’s 114-year record as they became the first-ever Scottish side to kick-off a campaign with seven straight clean sheets. Afterwards, experienced midfielder Steven Davis said he believes the current squad are capable of winning the title — and stopping ten-in-a-row — providing they can find the required consistency. The Northern Ireland international said: ‘We have definitely got the quality to do it, but we have to make sure we go and show that. That is what it is all about. There are still a lot of areas we can improve on. ‘We started the season really strongly last season as well, but I certainly think the squad as a whole is stronger. The quality in the squad is better.’