Philippe Clement delivers Danilo and Kemar Roofe injury updates after Rangers trip
Philippe Clement is unsure whether attacking duo Kemar Roofe and Danilo will play for Rangers again this season, with both facing long-term injuries.
Danilo has undergone surgery on a knee injury, while Roofe has suffered a setback after a two-month spell on the sidelines, being substituted 16 minutes into Rangers’ 2-0 victory over St Johnstone in December.
The Belgian has admitted that the injuries to both strikers may affect the club’s transfer plan throughout January, struggling to maintain a regular starting striker so far this season.
“Danilo and Kemar are not here [winter break training]. So it’s clear they won’t be available for the next couple of weeks, otherwise they would be here,” he said to Football Scotland on Monday (15 January).
“The season has a long way to go, ask me if they will play again this season in two or three months. That’s a little bit early.”
Drowning in injuries
Clement has really drawn the short straw with his set of strikers since arriving at Ibrox in October. However, he has made the situation work, claiming 16 victories in his opening 16 matches as manager.
Of players permanently contracted with Rangers, right-back James Tavernier is currently leading the goalscoring list, with Cyriel Dessers the closest to the defender with nine goals in all competitions.
Abdallah Sima, who is on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season, has netted 15 goals since signing for Rangers in the summer and is the deadliest of attackers in the squad. And although the Gers would love to keep the player after this season, Brighton would be silly to sell him.
The injuries to Roofe and Danilo have already affected Rangers and Clement’s transfer plan for January, with the club diving into the loan market for Wolves’ Fabio Silva. Other rumours have linked Lawrence Shankland to an Ibrox move, but that is less than likely to happen, especially because of Rangers’ limited funds.
Michael Beale’s summer spending spree continues to plague the club, with little money left over for Clement to stamp his mark on the squad while having to deal with a plethora of disconnected players in the squad.
Rangers fans will be hoping for good news in a couple of months on both strikers, especially Danilo. Despite only scoring six goals in 21 appearances since signing from Feyenoord in the summer, he brings a bright spark to the pitch that Clement’s side need moving forward.
In other Rangers news, a £4.8million bid update has emerged as development occurs in Ger’s quest to seal a January signing.