Kemar Roofe is unlikely to return from his calf injury before the international break, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed.
Roofe, 27, was forced off 42 minutes into the Europa League win against Lincoln Red Imps last week due to a calf injury and was left out of the draw at Hibernian at the weekend.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Willem II on Thursday night, Gerrard told the press that Roofe is likely to miss upcoming matches against the Dutch side, Motherwell and Ross County.
However, that does means Roofe could be in contention to return for the Light Blues when they take on Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season on October 17.
“Kemar will be missing probably until after international duty,” said Gerrard, as quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times. “He has an outside chance before that but we will have to make that decision closer to the Ross County game.”
Roofe’s injury issues are well known by those who’ve supported his previous clubs with the ex-West Brom forward playing just 13 times in the league for Anderlecht last season.
Gerrard and everyone else behind the scenes at Ibrox will have known that and the medical team will have no doubt been working hard to ensure he didn’t suffer an injury like this.
Roofe got through his first five Rangers appearances without any issues but his setback in Gibraltar suggests he might have an issue with playing more than one match a week.
It’s something that Gerrard and the physios will need to manage, as well as the player himself but Roofe has shown in his first few outings for the Gers that he could be worth the hassle.
Goals against Kilmarnock and Dundee United helped Rangers with their impressive form to open the Scottish Premiership campaign.
Let’s hope Roofe is back in time to play against Celtic but based on Gerrard’s quotes, he should be able to make his Old Firm debut next month.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist was blown away by what this player did at the weekend against Hibernian.