Rangers news: Mills claims Gerrard will be concerned by Defoe setback

Danny Mills has claimed Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will be concerned about Jermain Defoe’s latest injury setback. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former England international admitted that the veteran striker’s age makes him much more susceptible to “wear and tear”.

The 37-year-old was dealt a blow in his recovery from a hamstring strain when he aggravated the complaint during a training session last week.

Defoe initially picked up the knock during a preseason friendly against Motherwell last month, and has yet to feature for the Gers this term.

He also missed a significant portion of last season with calf problems, and Mills has suggested that the stresses of his lengthy career may be beginning to catch up with him.

When asked whether his latest setback would be a concern for Gerrard during an interview with Football Insider, Mills said: “I think it will be.

“Trust me, I know what it’s like getting out of bed at that stage in your career. It’s tough. Everything starts to ache a little bit more, it takes a little bit longer to warm up.

“It happens when you push the body to the extreme levels that most elite sportspeople have done. It’s not just age, it’s just wear and tear. The body starts to wear out. It doesn’t heal as quickly.

“But again, he still looks after himself very, very well. If he can get himself fit for even half of Rangers’ games, is he a good asset to have on the bench, to have around the training ground? Of course, he is.”

Defoe has been a hit for Rangers since signing from Bournemouth in 2019, registering 25 goals in 52 appearances.

Last season alone he scored 17 in 32 outings at a rate of one every 82 minutes.

In other Rangers news, ‘Upset’ – Top pundit reacts after Sturgeon derails Celtic 10-in-a-row bid.