Rangers boss Graeme Murty devastated to lose David Bates despite positive news on Russell Martin and Ross McCrorie

The 21-year-old centre half was stretchered off in the first-half of the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Celtic at Ibrox last Sunday.

A scan has revealed the former Raith Rovers player has suffered significant bone bruising and will miss the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final with the Parkhead club.

“There is no break, but it’s painful for the kid, painful for a young man who has done well for us, played well and is maturing," said Murty.

“But I do have to say that given the freak nature of the injury we’re delighted that that’s all it was because it could have been significantly worse.”

Bates, who has been a regular starter during the second half of the season, is out of contract in the summer and has so far declined to put pen to paper on an extension.

Murty stated that negotiations with the player would continue despite his injury and expressed hope an agreement could be reached.

“We are talking and we’ve been talking for a significant period,” he said.

Murty confirmed that Russell Martin, who missed the Celtic game with a back strain, was available and predicted that Ross McCrorie, who has been out with a foot injury since December, would be in contention for a start imminently.

“Russell took full part in training,” he said. “Hopefully Ross will be back shortly. We are looking to integrate him with the squad again maybe as soon as the start of next week.

“It’s just in time for him to then have a few days off during the international break, so he called that one well! But he is looking good and is desperate to get back.

“That would slightly offset David being out of the group, but let’s not forget the hu-man side of it. David is a little bit low at the moment because last Sunday was a massive game for him, a massive experience but he’s now experiencing the pain of a significant injury.

“So while we are celebrating Ross coming back, we have to make sure we don’t forget David.”