Nikola Katic is on course to hand Rangers a New Year boost as the Premiership title race steps up a gear.
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 underway.
Scans revealed Katic had torn ligaments and both meniscus in his knee.
The injury forced Steven Gerrard back into the transfer market to sign Leon Balogun as a replacement and the Nigerian international has excelled.
But Katic, who optimistically targeted being back within six months from his ACL horror, has stepped up his rehab.
And he is indeed 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 a 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’s also trips to face Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs as well as a home meeting with Ross County.
Katic has made 59 appearances since becoming one of Gerrard’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.
“I think the long break created problems and if you look at Germany for example, we saw there were many injuries after the first game back there.”
