Reggae Boy Roofe steps up recovery for crunch match
GLASGOW, Scotland (CMC) — Jamaica Reggae Boyz forward Kemar Roofe appeared to be winning his fitness battle ahead of a crunch Europa League semi-final, second-leg clash between his club Rangers and German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig today at Ibrox.
The 29-year-old has been out of action for the past three matches, since picking up a knee injury in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic on April 17 at Hampden Park, leaving Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst without a fit recognised striker.
Scottish media reports indicated, however, that Roofe, who has scored 17 goals this season, including a strike for Jamaica in a 2-0 win over Honduras in a World Cup qualifier in October, has been fast-tracking his recovery with the use of a hyperbaric chamber.
Van Bronckhorst said he was “optimistic” Roofe, who posted a photo from inside the chamber on his personal social media site, will be available for selection today.
Just as in the quarter-finals against Braga, van Bronckhorst’s squad must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in front of their home fans.
Van Bronckhorst was forced to adapt his line-up, with Ryan Kent and Scott Wright pushed forward into forward roles in Leipzig.
Fashion Sakala then played and scored against Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Parkhead.
Roofe, however, has been far more effective in the club’s European matches as a stand-in for injured main man, Alfredo Morelos, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season and was forced to watch from the sidelines, the Scottish Sun newspaper said.