Derek Cornelius has played his last game in the Europa League league phase.
Rangers removed the Canada centre-back from its roster on Wednesday as he recovers from surgery for a muscle injury he picked up on international duty last week. Cornelius, who is on loan from Marseille, will be replaced by Dujon Sterling in the squad. The league phase continues through the end of January, indicating that the team doesn’t expect to see 28-year-old Ajax, Ont. native back before then.
“Minimum, the end of January, maybe longer,” Rangers manager Danny Rohl replied when asked how long he expects Cornelius to be out.
Cornelius started Canada’s 2-0 win over Venezuela in Florida last week, but had to come off in the 33rd in apparent discomfort.
With all of Cornelius, Nice’s Moise Bombito (tibia), Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies (ACL) and Celtic’s Alistair Johnston (hamstring) on the shelf, Jesse Marsch’s entire first-choice backline is currently injured only seven months away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Since his loan move from France, Cornelius appeared in 12 matches across all competitions for the Glasgow side, scoring once.
Rangers continue Europa League play on Thursday against Braga at Ibrox.