Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso closing in on return after injury
Thursday 16 November 2017 08:11, UK
Fabio Cardoso is nearing a return from injury after being included in the Rangers development squad travelling to Berwick on Wednesday.
The defender has been absent since breaking his nose in the Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell in October, but is one of eight first-team players set to travel to Shielfield Park for Steven Notman's testimonial.
Captain Lee Wallace has returned to the training field following his groin injury, but Graham Dorrans faces a spell on the sidelines and will seek further advice on his ankle following the injury sustained against Kilmarnock.
"Fabio trained on Monday and Tuesday and got into the whole session which is good after his nose operation," caretaker manager Graeme Murty told RangersTV.
"Dozza is going to see a specialist about his ankle this week and Jordan Rossiter is progressing well.
"Lee Wallace was out on the pitch over the weekend when other people had time off. He is back on the grass this week and doing some high-speed stuff and it is really good to see where he is.
"We are being quite patient and quite cautious with him because we don't want to push it too soon."
Liam Kelly, Lee Hodson, David Bates, Carlos Pena, Aaron Nemane, Eduardo Herrera and Dalcio will also be travelling to Berwick, as Murty looks to give some of his fringe players a chance to impress.
"I need to see these players in games and they also need to play in games," he said. "I was a big believer as a player that I needed matches to be sharp, you could train as much as you wanted but I believed I was better as soon as I played a game."
He added: "They need minutes, they need to be ready and if at any time we need to call upon one of these players who haven't started a game, I need to know they are physically in condition and their touch is right.
"I need to know they are in the right mode tactically and that they are playing the football I like.
"There will be people going to Berwick and not as punishment because I think sometimes footballers see it that way. It's an opportunity to go and get sharp, get fit and actually give me a problem."
