Reggae Boy Roofe to see specialist as injury woes continue

GLASGOW, Scotland (CMC):

Reggae Boy Kemar Roofe, who has had an injury-plagued season at Scottish Premiership side Rangers, is to see a specialist over a troublesome calf problem that will not clear up.

The 30-year-old striker, with just two goals under his belt this term from six appearances, is facing an extended spell on the sidelines, manager Michael Beale has confirmed.

It appeared Roofe was returning to fitness, booking his team a place in the Scottish League Cup final with an extra-time winner over Aberdeen at Hampden last month. However, he then missed the next four games before featuring in the Scottish Cup victory over Partick Thistle.

A goal in the 3-0 away victory over Livingston marked his second appearance in succession, but then he was ruled out of last Sunday’s League Cup final, forced to watch from the stands as Celtic picked up yet another trophy at Rangers’ expense, winning 2-1.

Roofe’s efforts to make the squad for the final fell flat after he failed to stack up well in training the day before.

Beale explained, “Kemar tried to train on Saturday, but it was no good. Unfortunately, with Kemar he’s going through a tough time at the moment and he will be away to see someone as we need to get to the end of this.

“He has a problem with his calf, but there are one or two other things that could be leading to that that have been nagging. He and I have had a real heart-to-heart. He’s a boy that I’m really close to.

“I want to see him get some light at the end of the tunnel so we’re going to get some advice on that.”

Staying consistently fit has been an issue for Roofe since then boss Steven Gerrard signed him from Belgian side Anderlecht almost three years ago.

The latest injury marks the third time Roofe has suffered with calf problems, following a setback in 2020 which kept him out for a month and another one the following year which sidelined him for three weeks.

Roofe, who has scored once in five appearances for the Reggae Boyz since making his debut for Jamaica in 2021, is out of contract at Rangers in the summer of 2024.

And with Beale planning a squad revamp, it is believed Roofe’s injury record could count against him when it comes to making a decision on a new deal.