Rangers forward Ianis Hagi set to miss St Johnstone clash after testing positive for Coronavirus

Rangers have been dealt a huge blow ahead of Saturday’s trip to face St Johnstone after frontman Ianis Hagi returned a positive Covid-19 test while on international duty.

The 22-year-old will sit out of Romania’s World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia tomorrow night and is likely to miss the Gers’ lunchtime kick-off against Saints at McDiarmid Park.

It has been reported that Hagi had previously tested negative on five separate occasions since joining up with his national team.

The Romanian FA released a statement earlier confirming the positive result with the player now facing a period in self-isolation.

It stated: “Today (Tuesday) around noon, Ianis Hagi complained of slight headaches in the Skopje national team’s camp.

“He performed a quick test under the coordination of the medical staff of the national team and the result is positive.

“The player immediately went into isolation. Until today, on the occasion of this action of the national team, Ianis had performed 5 Covid tests, all with negative result.”

Hagi provided an assist during Romania’s 2-0 Group J qualifying win over Liechtenstein in Bucharest on Sunday.

The incident becomes the latest Coronavirus woe to hit the Ibrox club after manager Steven Gerrard and up to six first-team players tested positive following a recent outbreak which caused them to miss the European trip to face Alashkert and the Old Firm meeting with Celtic.