Danilo and Todd Cantwell pictured in Rangers training as Ibrox pair step up injury recovery

Danilo and Todd Cantwell have both been pictured in Rangers training as the Ibrox pair step up their recovery following recent injuries.

Both players were visible in photos on the Ibrox club’s Twitter account (17 October). Cantwell hasn’t played for the Light Blues since their defeat to Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season back in September, having suffered a knee injury late in the match but was visibly back out on the training fields.

Brazilian forward Danilo was also involved in the session, being pictured in training wearing a rather large protective mask having fractured his cheekbone during the Gers’ win over St Johnstone as he headed home the opening goal after 16 minutes.

Whether both players will be fit enough to return to the matchday squad for Philippe Clement’s Ibrox debut against Hibernian on Saturday 21 October remains to be seen, but you would imagine that should Danilo play any part he will have to continue to wear the large mask for protection.

Cantwell has previously said that he will be targeting a return for the clash with Hibs but has also admitted his recovery process hasn’t been easy, so Saturday’s clash may come too early for the former Norwich man [The Beautiful Game Podcast, 15 October].

Huge boost

It will be a huge boost to both the Rangers fanbase and Clement to see both of these stars back training with the first team as they have been missed incredibly during their time out of the side, which coincided with the defeats that ultimately cost Micahel Beale his job.

Danilo looked to have begun to find his feet at Rangers when he picked up his incredibly nasty injury and his header against St Mirren was excellent, s hopefully he can pick up where he left on whenever he can return to first-team action.

Cantwell has shown before that he can be a difference-maker for the Light Blues and although he hasn’t hit the heights this season that he has previously, under a new manager he could rediscover that form that made him such a good signing last January.

To turn this season around, Clement is going to need as many of his players fit and firing as possible and should he be able to call upon both Danilo and Cantwell in the first few weeks of his tenure, it will give him a much better chance of getting off to a winning start in Glasgow.

In other Rangers news, Barry Ferguson has offered Clement a very simple piece of advice to be successful at Ibrox