RANGERS were dealt a huge blow last week when the news broke that Niko Katic would be out for the forseeable future after suffering a serious injury in training.

The Croatian defender limped off the training park with suspected cruciate ligament damage, leaving Gers with just three senior centre backs.

Katic could undergo surgery once the damage has been fully assessed by Ibrox medical staff, but it now looks extremely unlikely that the 23-year-old will play any part in the first half of the Scottish Premiership season.

And Rangers hero Barry Ferguson believes Steven Gerrard will have to dip into the transfer market to find a suitable replacement for the big defender.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer: “It is a big blow first and foremost for Katic.

“To have no football for the last three months and then come into pre-season training and you are buzzing.

“To then get a cruciate ligament injury, it will be a tough one to take.

“It isn’t as long a road as it was a number of years ago. You can be back within five or six months now.

“But he is going to miss a big part of the season.

“I would imagine the manager would dip into the transfer market to get a centre half.

“He has four vying for two places and competition is always good, so don’t be surprised if Rangers go out and try and get another centre back in.”