Philippe Clement strengthened Rangers forward line in the transfer window with the additions of Oscar Cortes and Fabio Silva.
The Gers boss was questioned about whether or not this would be enough fire power but he obviously had a plan and was confident in the players available in his squad.
With Danilo and Abdallah Sima ruled out for months, rather than weeks, Philippe Clement has been given a boost with the news that he has a proven goalscorer who could soon be back playing for Rangers.
Philippe Clement hoping for imminent Kemar Roofe return
There is an element of ‘one last dance’ about Kemar Roofe’s current situation.
Chances of a new contract are almost nil but he will still be wanting to go out on a high.
An Instagram update this week saw Roofe post a picture of his new boots which raised hopes that the 31-year old was at least back on the grass and, as confirmed by Clement, he has been training again at Auchenhowie:
“Not yet, as we are going step-by-step with him. He trained today for the first time but with the second team. We want him to come back in a good way.
“I do not want to put a timeframe on it because then I put pressure on the medical staff and Kemar.
“I want him to be 100 per cent fit when he is with me and before that he is working with them. Of course, he can be really important this season.”
As Philippe Clement says, there is no timeline as to when we might see him back in the Rangers first team but the fact that he is out the gym and on the grass is a positive sign.
The gaffer probably wants to get him up to 100% but, the reality is, does anyone know what Roofe’s 100% really is any more?
After spending so much time out injured, it would take the 38-goal striker until the end of the season to get fully match fit.
With just 93 appearances in three and a half seasons, it isn’t worth waiting or expecting him to be available for a consistent run of games.
And, for all that it might sound harsh, neither do we owe Roofe anything either.
He has been handsomely paid for his 38 goals – £4.5m give or take according to Salary Sport – a staggering £120,000 per goal.
There is every chance that, given his history long before he joined Rangers, that Kemar Roofe will never get to full fitness again but, if he can get into the sort of condition needed to play 15-20 minutes or even longer, then he should be in match day squads.
The Ross County onslaught needed someone as clinical as Roofe and, in tight games, he could yet play the role that Clement hopes he can – especially with goal difference potentially a factor.
With March fast approaching, time is not on Roofe’s side.
