Filip Helander has admitted his priority is getting back to full fitness before making any decision on his future at Rangers.
The big Swede - who has been a long-term absentee for the Light Blues - is out of contract in the summer and a decision yet to be made by the club or player about what the future will hold for the stopper. He's currently going through the rehab process for his foot injury after having surgery on the knock as he looks for a return around February or March time.
His return will be met by a new manager in the dugout following Rangers' decision to sack Giovanni van Bronckhorst on Monday with poor performances and results ultimately proving his downfall, with Celtic now nine points ahead in the Premiership standings. Injuries haven't helped at Ibrox, particularly in the defensive ranks, with Connor Goldson and John Souttar also long-term crocks.
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Speaking about his injury and what the future holds beyond the summer, Helander told Afton Bladet: "There have been a lot of injuries, but there have been injuries that have been difficult for me to do anything about. First it was the knee and then the foot. It has been hard. But there hasn't been much more to do than fight. Hopefully I've had my fair share of injuries now over the past year.
"I tried to rehabilitate the foot without surgery. When I was back in time for the pre-season last summer, I injured my foot again. It turned out that it hadn't healed properly and I needed surgery. That's why it's taken so long.
"Hopefully I can be back at the end of February or the beginning of March. There is a bit left. Everything in rehab has gone well so far. No no. Never. With the surgery, this foot will be like any other foot. Besides, it's the right foot I had problems with and I could hardly use it before anyway, it's just a support leg [he joked]. I have felt the support of the Rangers fans and I have a strong inner drive to get back and help the club in the spring."
On a new deal, he added: "I do not know. My priority is to get back on the field first and foremost. Somewhere I am aware that I have to make some kind of decision before the summer. Whether we stay here or move somewhere else, we'll see."
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