Rangers face a potential forwards crisis against St Johnstone on Saturday after boss Steven Gerrard revealed Jermain Defoe and Kyle Lafferty are both major injury doubts.

Top scorer Alfredo Morelos is already suspended for the Ibrox clash with Tommy Wright's team following his Aberdeen dismissal and Defoe was expected to step up to lead the line against Saints.

However, the former England hitman has now reported a tight hamstring while Lafferty also has a calf issue, leaving Gerrard so short on forward options he has had to withdraw youngster Dapo Mebude from Billy Stark's Scotland Under-19s to provide back-up.

The Ibrox boss confirmed both Defoe and Lafferty would play take part in light training on Friday but said: "It's a concern, of course it is. However, we've got good attacking players. We may have to find a different way or a different plan. We'll see how the next few hours go and hopefully they pull through.

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"They are both confident and I'll trust the players. I'll give them both every chance of being available and we'll go from there.

"I won't take a gamble if it means putting their bodies at risk. I'll be led by the players and if they are prepared to take some sort of risk I'll go with that."

Mebude was due to be part of the Scotland young guns facing Azerbaijan in a Euro qualifying clash in Spain this weekend. But the 17-year-old could now be set for his first-team debut after returning to Glasgow.

St Johnstone are without a win in five, having played Celtic three times in that period, but manager Wright is optimistic ahead of the Ibrox clash.

"It's not a great run we're in. But we're still in a good position in the league, we've got eight games to cement our position in the top six, and no better place to go than Ibrox to get the three points. We know we can win there, as we have in the past."

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As well as the striker shortage, Gerrard will also be without goalkeeper Allan McGregor after failing to overturn the two-game ban issued to the Scotland number one for a tackle on Dons midfielder Lewis Ferguson last week.

Image: Gerrard's Rangers are looking to close the gap on Celtic

Eros Grezda (ankle) remains out, long-term casualty Jamie Murphy is starting light training but it some way off a return and fellow midfielder Graham Dorrans (also knee) has suffered a setback on his comeback bid.

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