Rangers manager Michael Beale hopes for good news as Kemar Roofe undergoes injury scan

Rangers manager Michael Beale is hoping for good news about Kemar Roofe after revealing the injury-prone striker is to undergo a scan.

Roofe had to come off after 45 minutes of the Viaplay Cup win over Livingston, having felt a groin injury. Rangers now want to determine the extent of the issue, with the forward certain to miss this weekend’s match against Aberdeen.

It’s potentially another blow for a player who has missed parts of the past three seasons with injuries. Beale is crossing his fingers that isn’t the case, having seen Roofe show his value in what football he has played this season.

“He’s away for a scan so no news on that one at the minute,” Beale said. “He didn’t train today with the rest of the team.

“When I spoke to him after the game he said he felt it half way through the first half. I would like him to hold his hand up but he felt he could continue on and then at half-time I asked him if there was an issue and he said yes. Then we take no risk with him.

“Until we get the news back from the scan we don’t really know what we’re dealing with. Obviously it’s disappointing for Kemar because he’s come back into the team and done so well until the other night.

“Listen, let’s hope it’s nothing too serious and he’ll be available in the short term rather than the long term.”

Roofe joined the Ibrox club from Anderlecht in 2020 but has played fewer than 90 games since, though he has been a regular goalscorer when fit.

Beale, who said the injury was in an area that hasn’t been an issue before, acknowledged his absences during Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenures and is hopeful he won’t have to be without the player for too long.

“It’s frustrating since he’s such a big player and such a very good player,” he said. “It’s hard because he’s not been available as much as he would like for three managers now, not just myself.

“It looked like he was in a good place and he was contributing well so let’s just hope he’s felt a niggle and come out. The right thing is to get the scan and he’s off for that this afternoon.”