An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Kemar Roofe ahead of the club’s League Cup final clash on Sunday…
What’s the latest on Kemar Roofe’s fitness?
Light Blues manager Michael Beale has revealed that the striker suffered a blow after the win over Livingston, which comes after Malik Tillman was missing from the squad due to injury – leaving the midfielder as a doubt for the weekend.
Speaking about the current state of his options, the head coach told the Scotsman: “This season our squad has been pulled apart by injuries.
“If I go through it, at the moment there’s still no Robby McCrorie, no [Filip] Helander, no [John] Souttar, no Ridvan [Yilmaz], no Arfield, no Lundstram, no Jack. Kemar Roofe has only just come back. Tom Lawrence is out. Like most things, a couple of days before the game I’ll get a take.
“Kemar Roofe had a slight issue as well after the weekend unfortunately so we won’t be too far away from the team that played last weekend. It wasn’t a dress rehearsal but there could be one or two more that declare themselves fit. I need to make sure they are because it’s important there’s not a bravado around it, that they genuinely are fit.”
Big blow
Roofe being unavailable for selection for the clash with Celtic on Sunday, after this injury worry, would be a big blow for Beale as the attacker is a proven goalscorer who has stood up in huge moments before.
He scored an extra-time winner against Braga in the quarter-final of the Europa League and assisted a goal in the 2-1 win over the Hoops in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last season. The Jamaica international also struck an extra-time winner in the semi-final of the League Cup against Aberdeen just last month.
These recent examples show that the dynamo is the man for the big occasion and has been able to deliver in crucial game-deciding moments, to help the team reach finals.
The 30-year-old, who has scored 36 goals in 78 appearances for Rangers in all competitions throughout his career at Ibrox, could now be a deciding factor in whether or not the Light Blues lift the trophy on Sunday because of his experience of being a difference-maker in these huge games.
Roofe is an excellent option for Beale to call on off the bench in matches, as he has proven himself to be a match-winner as a substitute, and that is why this latest injury concern could result in a big blow for the head coach if the striker is ruled out for Sunday.
The manager will, surely, be hoping that this ‘slight’ issue is nothing more than that and the ex-Leeds marksman will be available to face the Hoops in the final.
