Michael Beale hinted at his dissatisfaction with Kemar Roofe’s handling of an early injury during their game against Livingston. Roofe, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, including hip surgery, suffered yet another setback as he was forced to leave the field at halftime due to what seems to be a groin issue.
Expressing sympathy for the beleaguered 30-year-old striker, Beale emphasized that Roofe should have taken action sooner to prevent exacerbating the injury. He shared his thoughts with Viaplay Sports, saying, “Kemar has a slight problem with his groin; he felt it probably midway through the first half. He probably should’ve asked to come off in all fairness, and we just had that chat in there (the dressing room).”
In another post-match interview, Beale admitted uncertainty regarding the duration of Roofe’s absence from the squad, stating, “Kemar, I’ll have to speak with the medical team, but he felt his groin, and it’s bitterly disappointing as we’re trying to find rhythm as a team. We’re finding rhythm as far as results go, but if you look at the number of gifted forwards we’ve got, it’s not easy.”
However, Beale expressed optimism about Ridvan Yilmaz, who also sustained a knock during the game, suggesting that it was merely a bout of cramps and not a serious injury. Beale hopes that Yilmaz won’t join the growing list of injured players that includes Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin, Kieran Dowell, Tom Lawrence, and Danilo.
Beale commented, “It was a tad bit of cramp, that’s what he said when he came off, so no risk on that. We lost Kemar in the first half to a groin problem, and the schedule is what it is. The recovery between games is short, we go again at the weekend, it’s Aberdeen who have had the same schedule; they were away in Europe last Thursday, so the entertainment value gets devalued with the players playing so much, but it is what it is.”
As Rangers FC navigates a challenging season, Beale’s concerns about injuries and a hectic schedule highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the team as they strive for success.