Kemar Roofe’s season is over after the injury-jinxed Rangers striker went under the knife for a hip operation and will return alongside Tom Lawrence in the summer after the former Derby County man also went under the knife.
Roofe missed the Viaplay Cup final after returning from a shoulder injury picked up in the semi-final but has been ruled out yet again as his injury woes continue. Rangers boss Michael Beale said: “Kemar Roofe has had a minor hip operation and will be back for pre-season. Tom Lawrence has had a minor operation and will be back at pre-season. ”
In more positive news Ridvan Yilmaz could make his first Rangers first team appearance in four months in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter final tie against Raith Rovers. Boss Michael Beale revealed the Turkish international is available for selection after being on the sidelines since the end of October. Yilmaz was a big money signing from Besiktas in the summer after the departure of Calvin Bassey but struggled to adapt at the start before picking up a hamstring injury just as he was getting a run in the team under former boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The 21-year-old played the first half of a B team Glasgow Cup clash against Celtic in midweek alongside John Souttar, who came on against Kilmarnock last weekend after his own wretched injury issues, and the pair could feature against the Fifers at Ibrox.
But they face a battle for places with Beale’s boys impressive in a midweek rout over Hibs at Easter Road continuing their good form. He said: “It will be the strongest team possible for the game. One or two bumps but nothing major. Ridvan Yilmaz, John Souttar and Leon King are all available for selection at the weekend. The team have set a standard, the other boys will have to fight in training to earn minutes.
“This is a quarter final and we will give it the full respect it deserves. Ultimately, our aim is to win this competition but were are focused on the game at the weekend. Every game we are building our style, our belief and our confidence. Nothing less than our best will be acceptable.
“Antonio Colak had been fighting for fitness since I returned. In the last week he has looked sharp, with energy and the front three were excellent at the weekend. You have to own the shirt and fight for it in training.”
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