STEVEN GERRARD hopes midfielder Ryan Jack can give club and country an injury boost after stepping up his recovery from a calf problem.
Jack was forced off in the first half of the win over Dundee United earlier this month and was facing up to four weeks out of action at Ibrox.
The 28-year-old won't feature for Rangers against Motherwell this afternoon and Gerrard's side will then face Galatasaray and Ross County before the next international break.
Jack will be part of Steve Clarke's squad for the Nations League showdown with Israel on October 8 if he is fit to play and Gerrard will keep a close eye on his progress in the coming days.
Gerrard said: "It’s a case of taking each day as it comes. It’s very difficult to put a fixed date on Ryan’s return but he has progressed, he is starting to do one stuff outside now. That’s normally a sign that they are not too far away.
"I hope he is back for us before the international game. If he is back for us and he comes through those games no problem I don’t see why he wouldn’t be available.
"We would love nothing better than to send all our players off to internationals to represent the club as best they can.
"First things first. We need to try and get him back safely and with no problems."
Rangers return to domestic action on the back of their 4-0 victory over Willem II that put them just 90 minutes away from a Europa League group stage berth.
Gerrard was also without Joe Aribo, Brandon Barker and Kemar Roofe in midweek and was pleased to see his squad depth paying dividends once again.
He said: "We won’t have any of them available for the weekend. Jacko will probably be back the quickest. Brandon Barker has an outside chance for the weekend.
"I think that just shows how impressive Thursday’s result was. To go to a place like that and play a real dangerous opponent in Holland and win 4-0 without arguably there of your top players. The players deserve a lot for credit for that."
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