Kemar Roofe returns, John Souttar still not ready – Rangers early team news vs Aberdeen
Kemar Roofe is back in the Rangers squad and “ready to go” for the league cup semi final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park, Michael Beale has confirmed.
The forward has barely played this season due to extensive injury issues but is finally fit to feature on Sunday (15 January), although fellow goalscorer Antonio Colak may be ruled out with a “slight problem”.
John Souttar, whose time at Ibrox has so far been wrecked by fitness issues, is close to a return having trained all week but is not set to be involved until the game against St Johnstone (21 January).
He said in his pre-match press conference, via the club’s official Twitter account: “MB: John Souttar trained all week and is ahead of schedule, this week is too soon and expect him around the squad for St Johnstone which is good news.
“Colak had a slight problem and is touch and go for this weekend. Roofe is ready to go, he is a really high-quality player.
Early success?
There’s a bit of a way to go still but lifting a trophy early in his tenure would be an excellent way for Beale to cement his place in charge at Ibrox.
Aberdeen will be no pushovers, and there is a potential Old Firm derby waiting if the Light Blues are successful in this semi, but the early signs under the former Steven Gerrard assistant coach have been encouraging.
Unbeaten in six SPFL games, with only the two points dropped late at home to Celtic between the manager and a 100% record since he took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, it has gone almost as well as could have been hoped.
But if he could have a trophy to his name in six weeks it would be proof that this era is on the right path for certain, so Beale is sure not to take the Dons lightly.
The fact that he has been able to get the points on the board while contending with the numerous absences that in many ways derailed Van Bronckhorst’s time in charge is all the more positive.
And with players gradually coming back from injury, while there are still expected to be some January transfer arrivals, things are certainly on the up at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, an Old Firm transfer battle has heated up in a major way with big money on the horizon from an unexpected source.