Glasgow Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley looks certain for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after severely injuring his knee in a 3-2 Champions League loss away at German side VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday.

The pace-laden American damaged ligaments in a collision with Stuttgart keeper Rafael Schäfer, and will now be heading stateside for surgery and further medical evaluation.

"He has to go for an operation," Rangers boss Walter Smith told the club's official website, "He'll go to America for (the surgery) and we'll have a better idea after that operation, but it will be months before he's back - how many we're not quite sure, but it will certainly be months before he's back."

After having begun to make himself an important fixture in Smith's roster, notching two league goals and three assists for the Scottish title challengers, the loss is sure to be hard felt as the side mount a serious bid for the championship.

"It's a bigger blow to him in the sense that no player wants to be out for what could be a considerable length of time" Smith reiterated. "But for us, he was settling in and starting to do well. He has a bit of pace in the wider areas of the pitch, so we'll miss him."

The setback will also keep Beasley out of US National Team friendlies against Sweden and Mexico in early 2008.