Rangers defender Broadfoot out for three months

Rangers FC full-back Kirk Broadfoot is out of their final UEFA Champions League Group C match against Bursaspor next Tuesday and could also miss the UEFA Europa League round of 32 after suffering an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old Scotland defender had been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and hoping to avoid surgery to rectify the problem. However, following a consultation with a specialist on Wednesday, Broadfoot has been told he needs an operation, with manager Walter Smith expecting to be without the versatile player for up to three months.

Broadfoot will sit out the 7 December visit to Turkish champions Bursaspor and will struggle to return for the UEFA Europa League round of 32 on 17 and 24 February. Rangers will enter that competition having been confirmed in third place in Group C. The Glasgow club are already shorn of striker Kyle Lafferty with a broken finger yet may have defender Madjid Bougherra and midfielder Maurice Edu back for the Bursaspor game following respective hamstring and knee injuries.