The German is loving what he’s seen from the Portuguese in traiing as he was dealt a blow with Derek Cornelius injury newsYoussef Chermiti during a Rangers training session

Danny Rohl has been hit with a fresh injury blow after confirming Derek Cornelius faces at least two months out of action.

But the Rangers gaffer reckons £8million frontman Youssef Chermiti is ready to stand-up to his critics after a heart-to-heart sit-down.

Canadian cap star Cornelius had surgery on Wednesday morning to fix a muscle injury sustained last week on international duty.

Rohl had hoped the on-loan Marseille defender would be back shortly after the New Year celebrations.

But he said: “Derek had the surgery in the morning today and that means he will for sure be out longer. Minimum until the end of January, maybe longer.”

The news is the last thing Rohl needs with Scotland stopper John Souttar also crocked, alongside Spurts loanee Mikey Moore.

But Portuguese frontman Chermiti is back from the knock that kept him out of Saturday’s win over Livingston and could face compatriots Braga in tomorrow night’s Europa League showdown.

Rohl said: “I’m happy that he is back on the training pitch, I think the last couple of days he was a little bit injured, but this is a good part, it gives me a new opportunity.

“I must say today he was really lively in the training, maybe it was his best training since I arrived here, it gives me also a good feeling about him, and for him ahead of a special game against a Portuguese team.”

The big money signing of Chermiti proved to be the final straw for supporters where axed sporting director Kevin Thelwell was concerned.

The striker has netted just one goal in the last two and half years but Rohl said: “I think Youssef brings skills to the game.

“It’s important for players to develop and improve, we can do that to the best level, and Youssef is placing a high demand on himself.

“I demanded a lot from him yesterday. We had a good conversation with him, and if the reaction was like today when he made a fantastic training, then we are on a good way.

“But football is about consistency, and not about just one training session, it’s about doing it again and again, at the highest level.”

Meanwhile, Gers have added Dujon Sterling to their UEFA squad but the Braga game is likely to come too soon for the utility man after his six-month injury lay-off.