Rangers have had a few injury problems this season but the summer’s recruitment has seen them ride out any issues without too many hitches and fans will be glad to hear about the return of two key players ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe are now both back to full training with the former likely to play some part against Ross County at the weekend having returned last week.
Roofe, on the other hand, might not quite make it following the thigh strain he picked up in the Old Firm game on 2 January, the introduction of Ianis Hagi at half-time going a long way to see momentum swing in Rangers favour.
The Scotsman reported that the former Leeds United striker had suffered a recurrence of the calf strain that kept him out in the early part of the season but thankfully, this wasn’t the case and it would be good if he can make the bench against John Hughes’s side.
Alfredo Morelos has returned to decent form but, as shown against Motherwell, he can’t do it on his own and he will be glad to have some company closer to him, whether that is Roofe or Cedric Itten, we’ll need to wait and see.
What isn’t in doubt is the 28-year old’s form since gaining true match fitness and eight goals in his last nine league games point to a player with the intelligence and ability to find space in even the most congested of penalty areas, defenders having to keep an eye on both Roofe and Morelos surely don’t get much sleep the night before games.
Do you play Roofe if he isn't 100%?
Yes - if he's fit enough for the squad
No - not worth the risk
For all that we’ve missed how well he links the midfield to the forward line he shouldn’t be rushed back, especially with Hibs and Royal Antwerp on the horizon, Steven Gerrard will now have to plot when to play his marquee summer signing to get the best out of him – the league should take priority now that we are into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Against Motherwell, every break of the ball or deflection seemed to go into space or to an opposition defender, that is what Roofe brings to our attack, he has a Jermain Defoe-like knack for being in the right place at the right time, and when the time is right for him to return, hopefully he will continue from where he left off.