Hutton issues ‘big’ Rangers claim as Kemar Roofe picture emerges from Seville
Alan Hutton has tipped Giovanni van Bronckhorst to start Joe Aribo as the centre-forward for Rangers against Eintracht Frankfurt in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender and Rangers TV pundit admitted it would be a “big gamble” to play Kemar Roofe despite his inclusion among the travelling squad.
Roofe posted a picture to his personal Instagram on Tuesday (17 May) to confirm he has travelled with the squad to Seville.
The striker has not played for the Gers in the last month after suffering an injury.
As quoted by the Daily Record last week (12 May), Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed Roofe was not training with the team but was hoping for a “positive” update ahead of Wednesday.
Hutton admitted it would be a “huge ask” for the striker to feature as anything but a substitute in Spain.
Asked about the possibility of Roofe playing on Wednesday, Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s a difficult one.
“Obviously, you want one of your top strikers to be on the pitch. I think it could be a big gamble, a big risk. I think you need to have everyone at 110 per cent. Of course, everyone wants to play. I think he can play a part, probably from the bench.
“In recent games, when Aribo’s played up top, Rangers have played well. It’s kind of suited them, he’s been able to hold the ball up. They’ve had Scott Wright, Kent, Sakala, and runners off him. It’s worked, so I think they will revert back to that, knowing that everyone is 100 per cent fit.
“You have that option of Kemar Roofe off the bench. I think it’s a huge ask for somebody not to have trained for a certain amount of time to be thrown into what is a high stakes game.
“Factor in the heat as well, it’s very difficult. Roofe is one they will probably look to off the bench. At this moment in time, I think they’ll start with Aribo through the middle.”
In other news, pundit claims Rangers ‘could trump’ Celtic after ‘special’ Giovanni van Bronckhorst reveal.