Rangers have been boosted by the return of striker Kemar Roofe against Partick Thistle – but now the club are tasked with keeping the forward fit.
The Gers have had an awful run of injuries this season and at the centre of them, although often understated, is the Jamaican international striker who has been a potent option when available.
There is no doubting the striker’s ability, but it has been availability that is the issue for the forward who showed against Aberdeen that he is a match winning option for Rangers.
Against Partick Thistle too, Kemar Roofe might’ve got his second Rangers goal this season as he flashed the ball over the bar after being played through by Ryan Kent.
There’s a sharpness and directness to Kemar Roofe’s game that brings an extra dimension to the Ibrox attack and there is no doubt that the club have been made weaker by his absence.
But injuries have in part defined Roofe’s Rangers career to date, with brilliant moments interspersed by lengthy absences which have in turn impacted the club’s performance.
Rangers badly miss Kemar Roofe influence
It’s no surprise Rangers have struggled for goals without the striker, or that they’re nine points behind in the title race, as Roofe’s record of 35 goals in 77 appearances and 38 starts prove.
But the fact Kemar has only been able to make 77 appearances since joining Rangers for £3.5m in 2020 – that’s just over 25 per season but stats are skewed by the fact over half are from the bench – is a damning indictment of the player’s issues.
The entire thing was symbolically summed up by the player returning v Aberdeen, scoring an extra time winner, then going off with an injured shoulder following an innocuous enough clash with a rival player.
Before the match with Partick Thistle Michael Beale spoke about hoping the player’s injury problems are behind him; for Kemar Roofe’s sake, and Rangers’, we hope so too.
Meanwhile, Michael Beale has been explaining a moment of Malik Tillman madness in the game.
