RANGERS' injury problems deepened last night when the manager Ally McCoist confirmed that Kyle Lafferty could be out of action until March.

Steven Whittaker is also facing a longer-than-expected absence as he is likely to need surgery on a groin problem.

Lafferty had been expected to be out only during January, but further investigation of the hamstring injury he sustained against Motherwell has shown that a tear will keep him out for twice as long.

"It's not particularly good news for Kyle," McCoist told the club's official website. "He looks to have a tear in the hamstring and all indications were that was going to be the case judging by the way he pulled up. At this moment he is on crutches and we think probably six or seven weeks, I'm afraid."

Whittaker has learned he will probably need surgery on a groin problem and he will be told his expected comeback date next week. "Steven Whittaker is going down next Tuesday or Wednesday to see the specialist regarding his groin problem and it will be determined then if he needs surgery," added McCoist. "If there is anything needing done then, hopefully, it will be done immediately and we can get him back as quickly as possible."

Rangers already had major selection problems among their strikers given that Steven Naismith is out for the season and Nikica Jelavic currently has a groin injury which could mean he is unable to play against Arbroath in the William Hill Scottish Cup on Sunday. Kirk Broadfoot is also a doubt for the game at Gayfield while Steven Davis and Lee McCulloch are suspended.

Meanwhile, Sochaux have described Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu as their main transfer target in January despite having had an opening bid of £500,000 rejected." The American international joined Rangers in 2008 and is under contract until 2013.

"We are interested in bringing Maurice Edu to Sochaux," said Stephane Gilli, their assistant coach. "We have two or three other midfield targets but it's fair to say that Edu is our number one target for the midfield position. I cannot say if we have made an offer to Rangers. We will be discussing transfer strategies with the president of Sochaux this evening."

Defender Sasa Papac could be entering the final months of his Rangers career after reports in Bosnia that he will leave Ibrox and return home when his contract expires at the end of the season. Papac, 31, has spent six years with Rangers since signing from Austria Vienna for £450,000 in 2006, under former manager Paul Le Guen. It is believed that Papac has made his mind up to leave at the end of the current campaign, having signed a one-year deal when McCoist took over last summer. He had contemplated leaving only to be persuaded to stay on.

St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas has criticised the agent of his Spanish striker, Fran Sandaza, for saying a bid from Rangers was imminent. Clive Jagger had said clubs from England and America's MLS were also interested in Sandaza, but Lomas said his player should stay where he is until the summer even if he does not sign the club's offer of a new contract.

Lomas, who hopes to extend the loan of CKSA Sofia striker Cillian Sheridan, said of Sandaza: "There are no offers in and from what I understand Rangers don't have any money anyway. I know Ally McCoist and I know anything that does happen will be done properly.

"I have a good relationship with him [Fran] but nobody will pull the wool over my eyes. I don't think he will try that anyway. I thought it was a real lack of courtesy to read comments from Fran's agent when he hasn't even spoken to me.

"He didn't have the courtesy to phone me and I think that's poor. Where I come from you speak to people about these things. I think it's an agent looking for a bit of press time for himself. He is the kind of agent who gives agents a bad name. I know a few good agents who conduct themselves properly but unfortunately it didn't happen in this case.

"I don't have a problem with Fran. He is within his rights to see his contract out and we are within our rights to ask for a fee if anyone comes in. But nobody has been in contact about him."

Lomas, who will cup-tie Sandaza in tomorrow's Scottish Cup clash with Brechin City by listing a full-strength side, added: "I have told Fran that if he scores 25 goals this season they will be worth their weight in gold come the summer, especially with him being out of contract."

Rangers' signing target Scott Sutter has said he would love to return to British football. The Young Boys Berne right-back, 25, could be the subject of a loan move given Whittaker's expected absence. The English defender has had several seasons in Swiss football but has been told he can leave either on loan or permanently. He said: "I have always said I would love to play in Britain and I have made no secret of that fact. I have accepted that I have very strong competition for a place in the Young Boys squad. It looks like I could be leaving, but as long as there are no concrete offers, I simply have to concentrate on doing my job here."