Rangers star Kemar Roofe cut a defiant figure as he returned to press duties following an enforced absence due to the health of his child.
Roofe missed all three of the disappointing defeats to Malmo (twice) and Dundee United due to a mixture of suspension and his eight-year-old boy suffering bronchitis.
The striker has been tipped to leave a sizeable impression on the Gers side this season – if he can stay fit – and the player’s comments were a breath of fresh air in a week of thick smog.
Despite not playing, Roofe clearly takes responsibility for the team and something tells us that Rangers’ fortunes may well turn when the striker gets back into the thick of it.
“Every game I’m trying to do my best,” said Roofe [Rangers].
“I want to work hard and help the team out, show desire and workrate. Do the simple things really well and let the game take hold of itself and try and enjoy the moment as well. We are ready, it is a fresh competition, nothing else matters.
“In the last game against Malmo we had bad spells but there was many good moments in the game and we can’t just focus on the negatives – we have to look where we can improve and use it as a learning curve.
“We are really driven in the cups, not winning those two cups hurt us. The league was our priority last season and we impressed in Europe but not winning a cup hurt us and was down to us.
“The fans are seeing how hard we’re working.Unfortunately, we are not going to win every game – I’ve yet to see a team win every game over two seasons – but we weren’t terrible in those loses and they can see we’re working hard.”
The striker scored Rangers’ 3rd goal in the opening day victory over Livingston and is clearly itching to get back on the pitch in what’s been a disrupted pre-season.
Roofe is a player in his prime and a potent option for Rangers who we expect to stand out for the side this season in particular.
The ex-Leeds United and Anderlecht man also praised the wonderful hospital staff for caring for his son and highlighted his “focus” on getting back to things with Rangers.
According to Roofe, “It’s two separate worlds for me, as soon as I go back home I’m a dad and as soon as I leave the house with my Rangers kit on, I’m a footballer.”
The striker also sent a heartwarming message to fans for their support during what was clearly a difficult period for the striker.
