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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Christopher Jack

Michael Beale on Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence and Rangers' injury record

Michael Beale faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of Kemar Roofe's latest injury blow as he admitted there is no timeline set for Tom Lawrence to return to action.

Roofe made just his fourth appearance of the season on Sunday as he stepped off the bench to fire Rangers into the Viaplay Cup final after netting the winner against Aberdeen.

But he hobbled off just minutes later after a heavy fall saw him hurt his shoulder and Rangers are still awaiting a full diagnosis on the damage following an initial examination this week.

Beale admitted the striker had been wondering 'how many cats he's run over' amid a wretched spell of luck and the Ibrox boss is once again cursing the injury jinx that has plagued Rangers all season.

Beale said: "He’s gone away and had the scan. It’s not ideal what we are seeing but it’s not dislocated.

"I know they celebrated because it’s a semi final but I’m around the group every day and they way they celebrated with him tells you everything.

"That was his first goal of the season. When yo think of the scoring record he’s got for Rangers... it’s such a shame.

"I suppose it comes back to when I first came back six or seven weeks ago and I’m seeing the squad getting a lot of criticism.

"But that’s because people were not on the pitch. As soon as people come out on the pitch they play better.

"Whether that’s me, Gio or another coach, you have to have key players available. And it seems like every time we get one back we lose another one.

"We need too get through that and get to the end of the season in the best way we can, compete on all fronts and make sure we have a cleaner summer and come back healthy."

The loss of Roofe would be another significant setback for Beale as he prepares to welcome Antonio Colak back into the squad for the Scottish Cup clash at St Johnstone on Saturday.

The likes of John Souttar and Ianis Hagi are also close to a return but the ongoing situation with Lawrence, who has not played since August, continues to cause concern at Ibrox.

Beale said: "He had a slight setback and he went away to get an opinion. The opinion is 'okay let's see how things are going'.

"Some things he can do at this stage that someone that had that injury problem probably shouldn't be able to do. And he's had a bit of discomfort at times in areas that he shouldn't.

"It's slowly does it at the moment and there's not really much more to say than that. He is still not back with the group and we are just going to assess as we go how he feels and whether he can then start working with the group which will see a quick return or it doesn't go to plan and we have to look at an alternative."

Rangers have suffered more than their fair share of blows this term and have not had their troubles to seek as the squad has been beset by injury concerns.

The Auchenhowie treatment room has been as busy as the dressing room at times and Beale admits regime switches may not have helped the situation.

Beale said: "There’s been a lot of change in terms of coaching staff, fitness staff and medial staff in the last 18 months.

"That’s not ideal because people don’t know their bodies. It’s like going to a different doctors.

"Over time we need to have some continuity in that. There’s other injuries you can’t do anything about.

"The Kemar Roofe one is just one of those things that you can’t do anything about.

"It’s been a bit of both in terms of a lot of change around the players and then the demands.

"Some players are not fit. Others are playing more than you would like. And it leads to injuries.

"At this moment in time, it’s just about playing the game that is in front of you because you don’t know what’s coming tomorrow. Play that game that’s in front of you.

"Don’t worry about resting him and him and him. Just play the game that is front of you and deal with it the next day. Five subs is certainly helping. It’s probably helping more than people realise."

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