Jinxed Kemar Roofe is facing “weeks or months" on the sidelines after injuring his shoulder at Hampden on Sunday.
The Rangers striker had just scored his first goal of an injury-hit campaign to put his team 2-1 up against Aberdeen in the Viaplay Cup semi when he landed awkwardly and was forced off. Now Gers boss Michael Beale has revealed that the Englishman – just back from a long-term calf complaint – is awaiting word from medics.
He doesn’t need an operation but with Antonio Colak also injured, Beale is left with one fit striker in Alfredo Morelos for Wednesday's trip to Kilmarnock. The Ibrox manager said: “Kem’s gone away and had the scan. It’s not ideal what we are seeing but it’s not dislocated. He’s going to see somebody else just to get a second opinion.
“There’s a bit of separation at the top which just needs to take its time. For some people, it’s less time and for some other people it’s more.
“It is how Kem reacts to it in terms of the pain and then what the surgeon actually thinks we can do in the short-term. For some players it has been weeks, others months, that is the feedback I have.”
Beale, who revealed that Rangers are not trying to sign Everton midfielder Tom Davies and haven’t made an offer for Swansea winger Morgan Whittaker, admitted that Roofe is devastated by his setback. He added: “It’s a huge disappointment for him, the fans and his teammates because he’s not just such a good player on the pitch, he’s very important around the building. He’s one of the senior players and one of the more vocal ones.
“He was in yesterday and now it’s like he wonders how many cats he’s run over. He’s thinking, ‘How unlucky can I be?’
“I was actually wanting to make the subs slightly earlier but I was looking at the clock thinking, ‘If it goes to extra-time, how much does Kemar have in his legs?’ When he went on, I thought he looked really strong. His rehab has been really strong.
“But I’m thinking it’s a calf injury and we are on a really heavy pitch. I want to get away from that. I want to be able to bring people off the bench and not worry about how long they are going to be on the pitch for.”
On the transfer front, Beale revealed it is unlikely anyone will leave in January and he insisted that efforts to bring in new recruits are on-going. Asked about his interest in Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell, he said: “There’s no update just now but I’m really pleased with how things are moving. No news isn’t necessarily bad news.
“Everyone is on the same line and everyone is moving in the right direction. That’s not specifically speaking about that player, that’s just things in general.”
Record Sport revealed yesterday Rangers have targeted Whittaker and Beale said: “It’s a player that we know but I don’t believe there has been any communication between the two clubs. He’s Swansea’s player but he’s certainly a player that I’m aware of from working down south. Knowing his background, he’s a good player.”
Beale believes both Cantwell and Whittaker are likely to leave their clubs this month. He said: “They’re at different stages of their career but they’re two players who we’re aware of, that are good players, and will probably move in this window.”
On Everton star Davies, Beale said: “He plays for a fantastic club and that is where he is going to be. He is not going to be a Rangers player in the future.”
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