Steven Gerrard has confirmed Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo will miss Saturday’s match with Aberdeen and also“possibly more and more“, once that he suffered a nasty cut to the head of the 1-0 win at Livingston.
Aribo, who moved out of Charlton on the summer to Ibrox, received 20 stitches in a head wound following a challenge between Livingston’s Rickie Lamie within their ancestral League Cup match on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old was forced off with Glen Kamara’s fifth-minute goal proving to win the tie and also then establish a semi-final against Hearts at the Tony Macaroni Arena, after 22 minutes of this game.
„I spoke to Joe [Aribo] that morning, he is pretty sore and shocked but he is OK,“ Gerrard said.
„After obtaining 20 back in his head, he is OK – the doctors did a great job , as he had been cut all the way into the bone. When he will return the doctor will determine in the coming days.
„He will definitely miss the game at the weekend and potentially the upcoming couple after this. I will be surprised if we see Aribo play until the break.
„It’s his first time from London and he’s settled quite well. This is going to be a drawback but knowing him, he will bounce backagain. He didn’t even wish to come off.
„I really don’t think the participant has gone into intentionally hurt him but that in my book is serious play and in any league, it’s a red card.
„Livingston are extremely immediate and physical. They pushed us in the second half but I am proud of the lads that they stood together and stood it up .“
As for the trip of Aberdeen into Ibrox at the weekend, Gerrard admits he is a wary of a negative that knocked them from the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup last season, in addition to securing a 1-0 league win at Ibrox in December.
„Aberdeen hurt us a lot this past year. They are totally going to be tough games and we will need to get ready for this,“ additional Gerrard.
„The players are aware of what they are going to confront, the admiration is there but when we find our degree, I’m confident we will find a outcome.“
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