Did Rangers boss take £3.5m risk with player injury as absence beckons?

As Rangers dropped points in the Scottish Premiership tie with Hibernian at Easter Road, the Ibrox club’s support were also dealt a blow in the absence of new £3.5m man Kemar Roofe.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard would go on to explain after the game that the forward would need a scan on a calf issue after he hobbled off in the 5-0 win against Lincoln Red Imps.

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Kemar Roofe now faces an as of yet undetermined absence from the Rangers first team following a calf injury on the artificial surface at the Victoria Stadium. (Photo by Javier Montano/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

But with Roofe suffering from a series of calf niggles in the last few seasons, did Gerrard make a mistake risking the summer investment in such a routine tie on such a tricky surface?

“He’s been sent for a scan,” said Gerrard [RangersTV].

“We originally thought it might’ve been a bit of tightness in his calf, he thought it was tightness in his calf.

“On assessment, it was looking that way, but something’s showed up so he’s going to be missing in the short term.”

Gerrard was coy about the length of the layoff and that may well prove to be for good reason after Roofe, 27, was ruled out with a calf knock in January whilst at Anderlecht [Transfermarkt].

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Amid the coronavirus shutdown Roofe never played again with the calf knock putting an end to the player’s first and only season in the Belgian topflight.

Roofe also carried a calf knock the season before whilst at Leeds United and this is clearly a problem area for the striker.

Artificial surfaces notoriously play havoc on impact and muscle injuries so it’s a surprise Roofe was risked in Gibraltar, especially given the level of opposition we were playing.

The fee Rangers paid for the striker is reportedly also only half of what Anderlecht spent on the player only last season (£7m).

Given his injury history in Belgium – and his early time on the treatment table at Rangers – this will have fans worried that it’s a sign of his injury proneness.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard had previously suggested Kemar Roofe would be available for the trip to Hibs. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

But it is far too early make this judgement even if it is clear the player will need to be protected more going forward, despite his positive start in light blue.

Because should Roofe see extended spells on the side-lines, how Steven Gerrard uses the player will come under greater scrutiny – as will the price the club paid for his services.