In a major selection boost, Kemar Roofe has been declared fit for the Europa League final but according to Kenny Miller, Giovanni van Bronckhorst shouldn’t give him a start.
Roofe has taken up the main centre-forward’s role in Morelos’ absence but after he too picked up an injury, it is Joe Aribo who has been playing as a false nine in the Rangers XI. And Miller believes, the Gers boss needs to stick with this same tactic at Seville.
He told BT Sport, as quoted: “I think Joe Aribo in Kemar Roofe’s place. I think if he has not trained then it is too much to throw him into a game of this magnitude.
“It would be unfair to him to throw him in, particularly when there is so much on the line and expect him to go and do his job. He would have to be right at the top of his game.
“Having him in the squad is great. To have him on the bench it makes it look that little bit stronger.
BREAKING: Kemar Roofe fit and available for Rangers ahead of Europa League final🚨https://t.co/ywrIYZLk7m
— Herald Sport (@Herald_Sport_) May 17, 2022
“He gives you a different option if needed, but I expect Joe Aribo to start in the middle.”
Will Kemar Roofe get a start in the Europa League final?
Roofe has scored 10 goals in 21 league matches for Rangers this season so the manager will be itching to use him up front against Eintracht.
If it was Steven Gerrard, we are sure that he would have changed his formations and put Roofe in the starting XI but GvB is a much more experienced manager.
He will know that it’s very important not to alter a winning formula which is why we think he will stick with the false-nine system only. Kemar Roofe will most likely start on the bench as Joe Aribo takes up the false-nine role and the former might come off the bench in the second half – if needed.
Using a false 9 also allows the Rangers boss to add more personnel in the midfield area when they don’t have the ball and in attack, players like Ramsey and Ryan Kent will have the luxury to make decoy runs into the Eintracht box.