Rangers summer signing Daisuke Yokota has picked up a groin injury and is officially ruled out of Wednesday’s fixture against St Mirren at Ibrox. The Japanese winger, who arrived in Govan earlier in the transfer window to add depth and quality to the wide areas, suffered the setback in training during the lead-up to the Scottish Premiership encounter. Manager Derek McInnes confirmed the news during his pre-match briefing, expressing frustration at losing another key attacking option just as the squad was beginning to establish momentum in their domestic campaign.
The timing of this setback is less than ideal for the Light Blues, who are already navigating an expanding injury list across their first-team squad. Star forward Lawrence Shankland was forced off during Saturday’s win over Motherwell with a serious hamstring tear that could sideline him until late 2026, while strikers Youssef Chermiti and defender Tuur Rommens also remain unavailable. Yokota had been steadily working his way into the matchday group, featuring as an impactful option off the bench in recent matches.
Despite the disappointment of missing out against St Mirren, early indications suggest that Yokota’s groin issue is relatively minor. The medical staff at Auchenhowie expect the winger to be sidelined for only a short period, with a realistic possibility of him returning to full availability ahead of the weekend’s high-stakes action. The coaching staff are taking a cautious approach to ensure the issue does not aggravate into a long-term problem given the demanding schedule ahead.
In Yokota’s absence, McInnes retains options in wide positions to reshape his frontline for Wednesday evening. Players such as Ross McCausland, Djeidi Gassama, and recent arrival Badredine Bouanani are all vying for starting spots, while young prospect Findlay Curtis continues to push for inclusion. Rangers will look to claim three crucial points against a high-flying St Mirren side as they seek to build momentum before an upcoming Old Firm double-header in the league and cup.