Garner faces anxious wait

Former Preston North End striker Joe Garner is waiting to discover the full extent of the shoulder injury he suffered at the weekend,
Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko (left) and Rangers' Joe Garner (right) battle for the ball . Photo : Ian Rutherford/PA Wire.Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko (left) and Rangers' Joe Garner (right) battle for the ball . Photo : Ian Rutherford/PA Wire.
Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko (left) and Rangers' Joe Garner (right) battle for the ball . Photo : Ian Rutherford/PA Wire.

The Ranagers front man was stretchered off 15 minutes into the Ibronx outfit’s 2-1 defeat by Celtic on Saturday after suffering a painful dislocation.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment as his team-mates were left to battle Brendan Rodgers’ rampant Hoops without him.

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Reports on Tuesday morning claimed Garner had been definitely ruled out for at least four weeks – with a three-month absence also possible if doctors decide he needs surgery.

But it is understood Gers boss Mark Warburton is still waiting to hear from his medical team just how bad the £1.8million signing’s injury is.

With the joint still badly inflamed, it will be next week before Garner will be able to undergo the scans required to properly asses the damage.

But Warburton will be praying his most costly purchase does not require a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

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He has already lost both of his marquee summer signings, with Joey Barton axed and Niko Kranjcar out for the campaign after rupturing knee ligaments, and Aberdeen can reclaim the initiative in the race for the Ladbrokes Premiership’s runners-up spot if they win their game in hand.

Garner has netted just three times in 19 outings for the Glasgow giants but his combative style has been the spark for Gers recent upturn in results.