Steven Gerrard gave an update on Kemar Roofe‘s fitness after the disappointing draw with Hibs at the weekend after the Englishman’s surprise omission from the match day squad and, with an Old Firm fixture just a few weeks away, it makes for nervous reading, as reported by The Daily Record.
In his pre-match presser, the gaffer had said that he hoped he would be available for selection but he may just have been keeping the opposition guessing, given the other injuries that he is already having to cope with:
“We are confident that Roofe will pull through as he was sensible and didn’t take any risks.”
Roofe missed nine matches last season at Anderlecht with a calf issue and he was right to come off early in Gibraltar, especially given the unforgiving nature of the surface he was playing on.
Gerrard will be hoping it isn’t a similar issue but his comments will have done little to ease the fears of Rangers fans:
“He’s been sent for a scan, we originally thought it was a bit of tightness in his calf, he thought it was tightness in his calf.
“On assessment it was looking that way but something showed up so he’s going to be missing in the short term.”
So both the player and medical staff thought that it was nothing more serious than a “bit of tightness” in his calf but he has now been sent for a scan and added to an injury list that already includes Niko Katic, Joe Aribo, Ryan Jack and Brandon Barker from the first-team squad, with the latter three and Roofe facing a race against time to be fit for Parkhead.
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With Alfredo Morelos said to be the subject of another bid from Lille in the region of £18million, the last thing Gerrard would want is to be going into the first Old Firm game of the season without either of his first choice forwards – unless he already has someone else lined up to replace the enigmatic Colombian that is.