I’ve not been fully fit for YEARS admits Rangers star Kemar Roofe – but now I’m ready to shoot down Celtic
KEMAR ROOFE has opened up on his hip operation and revealed he wasn’t playing at full capacity for YEARS.
The Ibrox hitman is fully fit again after nightmare injury problems since moving to Scotland in 2020.
Ex-Leeds striker Roofe, 30, revealed he delayed the hip op because he didn’t want a long spell on the sidelines.
But the Jamaican international finally admitted defeat last March, and went under the knife to solve the long-standing issue.
Now Roofe insists he feels reborn and is ready to lead the line against Celtic in today’s Ibrox showdown.
He said: “I am feeling as good as I have in a long time. My body is finally working. I can do stuff that I couldn’t do before.
Read more Rangers
“A lot of the time I was just using desire to get myself through the games and through training.
“I would tell coaches and physios I was fine when I was probably not.
“That’s just how I am, I want to play. It had been in my head for a very long time. I had known about it for many years and every physio or doctor I spoke to said, ‘Ooooffftt’ because it is a big rehab.
“Also, as a player you don’t want to be taking that time out.
Most read in Football
“I’m at Rangers to win and I can’t do that if I am out for three months.
“Yes, I have been out with different types of injuries, but that is part of football — and it was also a secondary effect of my hip.
“But I only played five or six times last season, we weren’t really getting anywhere, and we were out of the different cups.
“So it was time for me to do it. I’d just had enough, both physically and mentally, of keeping on pushing through it, only to then keep breaking down time after time.
“So I just thought, ‘That’s it, let me get it sorted’.
“Now I can finally wake up and think, ‘Yeah, I feel good now’.
“I needed a hip operation. I had always put it off because it was a three or four month rehab.
“As a player you haven’t got that sort of time. Unless I couldn’t literally kick a ball, I wasn’t going to do it.
“And I thought I could get myself through many years and I did.
“I bet you guys never even knew I had a hip injury! So that’s finally sorted.
“I went to Aspatar in Qatar for my rehab and got a programme that I keep following to this day.
“So far it’s working. It’s a relief. I can wake up in the mornings and feel good. I don’t have to worry about what is going to go wrong.
“I can do what I want to do.
“In my head I wanted to do things but my body couldn’t.
“That is sometimes the main battle I had during games. It’s not actually what is going on, it’s me versus myself.
“Can I do this? Shall I do it? Let me do it.”
Ahead of today's Old Firm clash against Celtic, Roofe is hopeful of a start and a goal.
He has scored previously against the Hoops - but that was during Covid.
And he’s desperate to sample the feeling at a full house.
He said: “I will never forget those goals, but it’s different without a crowd.
“It would mean a lot more to be able to celebrate with the fans.
“But at the same time all we need to worry about is winning, getting the three points.
“It doesn’t matter who scores. It doesn’t matter how it goes in — as long as it is legal.
“I’m ready and I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s a massive game, we all know this. It’s a game that everyone wants to play in, and probably the main reason that players come to Scotland.”
Boss Michael Beale spent over £10million to bring in Cyriel Dessers, Danilo and Sam Lammers this summer.
But Roofe is still classed as the best finisher at Gers after firing in 37 goals in 81 games — with just 43 of those starts.
Asked about that view of him, he added: “No comment!”
But Roofe revealed his dad Glenn was the man who honed his prowess in front of goal.
He said: “I put a lot of work in through the years down the park with my brother and my dad.
“We’d work on my shooting and finishing, different types.
“I was down the park with my dad and brother and I’d see my friends.
“They were playing football or with their bikes, but they were having a different type of fun.
“I was down the park for business. Getting the work in. My friends were just there watching us.
“Naturally you want to play with your friends rather than be working and grinding at it but I can only thank my dad, Glenn, for that.
“As a father I now know that putting in that sort of time with your kids is hard, especially when you have a job. He did that. So for me it all comes from him.
“I have worked with very good managers and coaches. We’ve got one here — the gaffer is top.
“But these managers and coaches have not taught me what my dad did. Simple as that. And it’s something that I will never lose.
“Again, I will reiterate that I have to thank him for what I have achieved and what I can do.”
Roofe scored a stunning acrobatic volley against Ross County last weekend.
The striker met Borna Barisic’s perfect corner, and shrugged off the attentions of County defender James Brown to volley in at the back post for his first goal since February.
And Roofe joked that was down to his love of WRESTLING. He added: “It was because I had been watching WWE!
“I am a pretty flexible person anyway, whether I am injured or not.
“It was just instinct to do that manoeuvre. It was the only way I was going to make contact with the ball.
“I had to get my leg there, reach for it and also fight the defender. It happened and thankfully it went in.
“For me it’s a cliche, but the next game is always in my head.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“Can I win in the next game? Can I score or create? That’s all I care about.
“If I do that then the rest will take care of itself.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page