NIKO KRANJCAR’S injury layoff has been extended to at least eight months, according to the Croatian national team’s doctor.
But he insists the Rangers midfielder CAN return to the level he was at before the injury.
The classy Croat suffered a sickening blow last month when he snapped a cruciate ligament in training.
Mark Warburton estimated the ex-Spurs and Portsmouth ace would be back within six months.
However, Croatian FA doctor and world-renowned knee specialist, Dr Boris Nemec, believes it will be far longer before the 32-year-old is back in action.
But he reckons there’s no reason why the setback should impact on his career.
Dr Nemec said: “Niko has suffered a serious knee injury that requires surgery.
“The knee is not stable and without an operation it would be very dangerous.
“It is necessary to construct a new cruciate ligament and give it time to stablise.
“The conventional wisdom is that the player can play again in six months.
“However, recent studies have shown that it is better to wait another couple of months.
“If he were to return after just six months, there is a bigger chance the knee ligament will break again.
“But the vast percentage of players who suffer an injury like Niko return to the same level they were at before the injury.”
READ MORE
Rangers attacker Niko Kranjcar set for six months out with injury
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe