Rangers striker Kemar Roofe chases the ball
An injury expert has now dropped some worrying news for Glasgow Rangers involving Kemar Roofe.
The Lowdown: Roofe returns
Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League final, Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that Roofe is ‘available‘, having trained for the first time since his injury on Monday.
He has not featured in the team for over a month because of the issue, but could well be in line to make a dramatic comeback against Frankfurt.
The Latest: Not so fast…
Speaking to Football Insider, Ben Dinnery, who has a background in both medicine and data analysis, has shared that Roofe’s sharpness may be ‘lacking’, and that he may struggle to get through even a 20-minute cameo:
“He will have been out for over a month.
“If we look at his player profile, Roofe is expected to make short, sharp, quick movements. His small percentage decrease in output might be exacerbated further because of the type of role he plays.
“So the truth is that it is not ideal but his baseline levels of fitness should be fairly good. That sharpness, however, might be a little bit lacking.
“But it’s a Europa League final and the adrenaline will be pumping. If he has a 20 or 25-minute cameo, hopefully that adrenaline will be enough to carry him through when he’s struggling.”
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The Verdict: Don’t start him
Given what Dinnery has said about Roofe’s lack of sharpness, the Ibrox faithful must not risk playing him from the start, and instead hope that he can come on for the last 25 minutes or so of the game as he suggests.
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With Alfredo Morelos injured, Joe Aribo has played as a makeshift striker in recent matches in the Scottish Premiership, and so should be comfortable in fulfilling that role from the start tonight, before being drifted back into midfield for Roofe to come on.
Of course, this will likely depend on how the game is going, as if the Teddy Bears are winning, van Bronckhorst may not feel the need to risk him, but if they are behind, then he may not have another choice.
In other news, find out which transfer target Gers have now missed out on here!
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