---
title: "Rangers: Whelan discusses Gerrard’s use of Kemar Roofe"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-kemar-roofe-noel-whelan-alfredo-morelos/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-04-17T12:15:56Z"
modified: "2021-04-17T12:15:56Z"
---

# Rangers: Whelan discusses Gerrard’s use of Kemar Roofe

**Noel Whelan has suggested Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is wasting the talent of Kemar Roofe by playing him on the wing.**

### **Whelan discusses Gerrard’s use of Roofe**

Roofe signed for Rangers last summer from Anderlecht. Despite being a natural striker, he has played the majority of his games on the left or right flank this term [as per Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kemar-roofe/leistungsdaten/spieler/141350).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”351179″\]

[Speaking to Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/whelan-gerrard-wasting-exceptional-roofe-as-rangers-ace-wants-to-play-elsewhere/), Whelan believes Gerrard should play the £5.4m-valued 28-year-old ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kemar-roofe/marktwertverlauf/spieler/141350)) more centrally. He explained when asked whether Roofe would prefer to play through the middle:

> *“Yeah, I believe so.*
>
> *“He came to Leeds as a winger and that was his position pretty much, for a long time he was out wide.*
>
> *“I just think you get more benefit and his movement is much more effective in that central area, he’s alive, he makes great runs in behind and those little diagonal runs.*
>
> *“I feel that he’s very regimented out wide, there’s not much movement from him, they miss that quick movement getting in behind.*
>
> *“Those little quick balls in between defenders, he’s very static out there for a player like Kemar Roofe, his movement is exceptional in and around the box and to have him out wide. Yeah, it does seem a little bit of a waste.*
>
> *“But if you asked Roofe if he’d rather be on the bench or on the wing, he’ll tell you the answer.”*

### **Actually performed well on the flanks**

Roofe shone at Leeds as a striker before moving to Belgium, where he managed [seven](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kemar-roofe/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/141350) goals in 16 games before making the switch to Scotland. However, while he has played in the unfamiliar role of a winger for much of the campaign, he has actually done rather well, netting [10](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kemar-roofe/leistungsdaten/spieler/141350) goals in 13 games in that role.

\[freshpress-poll id=”345378″\]

With Alfredo Morelos being the number one striker for Gerrard right now, it is hard for Roofe to nail down a starting spot as a central striker unless there is a change in formation. If the Colombia international were to leave in the summer, Roofe may be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

***In other news, [Rangers are delighted with this 20/21 news.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-slavia-prague-pre-season-arsenal/)***