Rangers hoping for good news from Joe Garner's shoulder scan

Rangers boss Mark Warburton is keeping his fingers crossed for good news after confirming Joe Garner is due to have his shoulder injury scanned on Wednesday.

The Ibrox striker had to be rushed to hospital after dislocating the joint during the Hogmanay Old Firm clash with Celtic.

The freak injury left the £1.8million former Preston man in obvious agony as he was stretchered from the field.

And Warburton fears it could be a damaging blow to his side's hopes of clinching second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership if the 28-year-old frontman is ruled out for the long-term.

Garner has had to wait for the swelling around his shoulder to ease before having it assessed by medics but has been told he could be ruled out for up to three months if surgery is required.

Warburton - who welcomed Garner and the rest of his squad back to their Auchenhowie training base on Monday after being given a week off following the 2-1 defeat to Brendan Rodgers' Hoops - told Rangers TV:

"Joe has a dislocated shoulder as you saw in the Old Firm game.

"He's rugged Joe, he's robust and our obvious concern is that we have to watch Joe and look after him.

"You always look after the health and welfare of any player but also recognise the way Joe plays the game. He's aggressive, he's all out, and he's fearless in the way he plays.

"He has a scan on Wednesday. We're very hopeful that the way he has recovered dramatically, in terms of the strength he has shown and the movement in the limb already, means we get good news from the scan and it won't be too long to keep him out.

"But we do what's right for Joe Garner so hopefully it will be good news.''

Warburton has already made his first move of the January transfer window after landing USA international Emerson Hyndman on loan from Bournemouth.

And Clyde Sport understands a loan move for Arsenal's Jon Toral is likely to be completed on Wednesday.

And Raith Rovers' 20-year-old centre-back David Bates is also being lined up for a permanent switch to Ibrox.

He spent the first half of the campaign on loan with the Light Blues, featuring for the club's Under-20s side as well as occasionally providing defensive cover on the bench for Warburton's top team.

The Gers boss has been encouraged by Bates' progress and is now set to reward him with a full-time contract.