BBC Sport - Football - Rangers' Kyle Bartley misses cup final with knee injury (original) (raw)

Bartley had played a run of games in the Rangers first team

Rangers defender Kyle Bartley will miss the Co-operative Insurance Cup final against Celtic due to a knee injury.

The on-loan Arsenal player suffered suspected medial ligament damage in Thursday's Europa League defeat by PSV.

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist said: "It's really unfortunate, he's been a really good player for us and I'm disappointed for him."

Meanwhile, Rangers say the knee injury to Kyle Lafferty, carried off against PSV, is not as bad as first feared.

The Northern Irishman could also miss Sunday's final after landing awkwardly and appearing to jar his knee in the game against the the Dutch league leaders.

"He has taken a good whack on the knee, but he has responded well this morning," said McCoist. "He will still be a doubt but has a chance."

	He has been growing in stature in every game and it's a big blow for him Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist

McCoist revealed that winger Vladimir Weiss was in the same position as Lafferty as he bids to shake off a foot knock.

Bartley will have a scan to determine how long he must spend out of action, but it could be as much as six weeks.

The Englishman was left clutching his left knee after a collision with PSV Eindhoven's Swedish goalkeeper, Andreas Isaksson, with just a few minutes of the 1-0 defeat left to play at Ibrox.

"He has been growing in stature in every game and it's a big blow for him as he has been loving his football with us," McCoist told Rangers' website.

"It won't be until after he has had a scan that we'll know exactly how long he will be out for and I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at that one."

On Thursday, Aberdeen captain Paul Hartley was ruled out for at least six weeks with an injury of the same nature and Rangers have also suggested a similar timescale in Bartley's case.

Since arriving from the Gunners in January, the 19-year-old has made nine appearances for the club.

He scored his first senior goal against St Mirren earlier in the month in a 1-0 Rangers victory in Paisley.