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Medical expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that the new injury to Kemar Roofe is ‘very frustrating’ for him and Glasgow Rangers, although not ‘alarming’.

The Lowdown: Injury setback

Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed in late October that the 29-year-old had suffered an injury setback and would be missing for a couple of weeks.

The striker had been carrying a knee injury from last season, although he did make his return in the 1-0 win at home to Dundee in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals last month.

Roofe then made another substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw at home to Livingston in the Premiership, but this latest injury has kept him out ever since.

The Latest: ‘Very frustrating’

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery – who runs the Premier Injuries site and also contributes for Sky Sports – has claimed that Roofe’s latest injury setback is ‘very frustrating’, but not ‘alarming’.

He stated of the Jamaican’s woes: “I wouldn’t say it’s alarming, it’s more frustrating in terms of where the player wants to be.

“We know the associated risk of players returning from long-term injury, regardless of the work you are putting in on the training pitch.

“Nothing quite prepares the body for the rigours of competitive first-team football. That’s why you see players suffer minor setbacks and niggles because you need to adapt and integrate.

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“This latest setback puts a pause on him being involved but in the grand scheme of things, it’s just a minor issue.

“Unfortunately it’s one that he will be used to. You need to be in a really strong mindset to get you through that. You just focus on hitting those milestones in recovery and getting back in the team.

“It’s very frustrating, very disappointed but not totally unexpected. The break eases the pressure. Usually, everyone is asking when you are back and you push yourself.

“This allows the process to take its natural course, you can ease back and go through a thorough programme, so you arrive in the second half of the season in a really good place.”

The Verdict: Cannot catch a break

Roofe simply cannot catch a break, as he has been suffering from constant injury problems since the last campaign.

With Alfredo Morelos strongly linked with leaving Ibrox over the next few months, there is a place in the Rangers squad for an understudy to Antonio Colak, and Roofe would be confident that he can eventually surpass the new signing as the Light Blues’ main focal point.

He finished as the club’s third-highest scorer last season with 16 goals across all competitions, and when fit, he has shown that he can be a consistent threat in front of goal.

However, these constant injuries are hampering his chances of getting more game-time for the Light Blues.

Glasgow Rangers turn their attention back to the Champions League tonight as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side host Ajax at Ibrox in their final match of the group stages.

The Light Blues have no chance of making the knockout stages of the competition and it would take a huge scoreline to move above the Dutch side and into third, as they are 11 goals better off on goal difference.

The Dutchman’s team have lost all five of their matches in the Champions League so far and have been outscored by 19 goals to one, with Napoli and Liverpool the other two sides competing in the group.

The Gers head into the game off the back of a 4-1 win over Aberdeen in the Premiership last weekend, as Antonio Colak, John Lundstram, Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier scored the goals to send the club into this clash with a crumb of confidence.

One player who will be unavailable for selection against the Dutch giants, however, is left-back Ridvan Yilmaz. He pulled up with a hamstring injury within the first ten minutes against the Dons and is now set to be out of action for a couple of weeks.

The full-back, who Ross Wilson dubbed “exciting” in the summer, had finally won his place in the starting XI as it was his third start in four games in all competitions.

Van Bronckhorst, unfortunately, must now forget about the former Besiktas man and unleash Croatia international Borna Barisic from the start against Ajax.

The £18k-per-week engine should come in at left-back instead of a change to a back three and an attacking player being moved to wing-back or another player coming in as a makeshift option.

Ex-Gers man Neil McCann once claimed the defender is “like a train” in attack, whilst covering a match for the BBC, and his statistics suggest that there is indeed no stopping him when he gets going.

In the Premiership, Barisic has assisted four goals and created six ‘big chances’ from left-back in 12 appearances, whilst creating 1.8 chances per game. This shows that he is capable of providing a huge threat down the left flank, despite playing in defence, as he has consistently created opportunities for his teammates to score from.

He has shown glimpses of being able to replicate this on the continental stage, with 1.0 key passes per match in the group stages, and he must now be thrown back into the starting line-up tonight to see if he can create something out of nothing to salvage at least a point out of the group.

Liverpool are considering a move to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer in 2023, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Bayern move falls through

The Austrian’s contract with the Bundesliga giants is set to expire at the end of the season, and despite having agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich over the summer, the two parties failed to complete a deal before the deadline.

The Reds were credited with a late interest in the 25-year-old in the previous window, and it sounds like they are once again weighing up the possibility of bringing him to the Premier League next year.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Laimer

According to 90min, Liverpool monitoring Laimer still ‘remains the case’, with the maestro under the ‘serious consideration’ of FSG ahead of a January approach.

The 24-cap international and his representatives are claimed to be ‘open to all options’, which include a ‘possible move’ to England.

He is currently recovering from an ankle injury, though ‘is expected’ to be ready to be thrown into action following the conclusion of the World Cup.

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The Verdict: Melo replacement

Arthur Melo is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future and so Laimer, an ‘unsung hero’ according to journalist Josh Bunting, would be the perfect replacement.

The Austria star is a real creative spark in the centre, having racked up 18 assists and 11 goals during his time at Leipzig, alongside averaging 2.8 tackles and 1.8 dribbles per league game (WhoScored).

The 5 foot 9 talisman could be available on a cut-price deal given his contract situation, and Liverpool need to act fast if they want to capitalise and lure their target to Anfield.

Glasgow Rangers will be grateful the international break arrived when it did, especially considering their previous two results.

Michael Beale has overseen two potentially season-damaging results recently, losing 5-1 to PSV Eindhoven that saw the Ibrox side miss out on the Champions League group stages, while a 1-0 defeat to Celtic in the Premiership was a major setback.

Despite nine summer arrivals, it appears the 43-year-old still doesn’t know his strongest starting XI or what system to operate with, which is slightly worrying.

There has been some good news recently with the return of Kemar Roofe and Tom Lawrence from injury and these two players could certainly add some attacking spark into the starting XI.

How long was Tom Lawrence injured for?

The Welshman was signed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst last summer after he departed Derby County, and it looked like an encouraging piece of business by the Dutchman heading into the 2022/23 season.

The left-winger played just nine matches for the Gers before suffering a season-ending injury against Ross County, however, which saw him miss a grand total of 49 games for club and country, even missing out on representing Wales at the 2022 World Cup.

He stepped up his recovery this summer under Beale and the signs were looking good for him to finally make an impression under the former QPR boss as the Light Blues looked to have a good start to the 2023/24 campaign.

How good is Tom Lawrence?

Prior to moving to Glasgow, Lawrence had shone for Derby in the Championship, making 185 appearances for the Rams, scoring 37 goals and registering 25 assists across those matches, which works out at roughly a goal contribution every three games.

The £22k-per-week dynamo showcased his attacking talents during his first few weeks at the Gers shortly after arriving last summer.

He was particularly impressive in the Champions League qualifiers, scoring once – a wonderful free-kick against PSV – as the club qualified for the lucrative group stages, while he also shone domestically.

His two goals and two assists across his opening five league matches suggested that Lawrence was going to be a key attacking outlet for the Gers. He also created one big chance, averaged 1.8 key passes per game and took 3.4 shots per game during those ties and the injury certainly derailed not only his momentum, but the team's in general.

Wayne Rooney previously described the 29-year-old as being “magnificent”, high praise indeed from arguably one of England’s finest-ever footballers, and it shows just how effective he can be when fit and healthy.

Rangers have scored just six goals in four Premiership matches, with four coming in one game against Livingston, and it's clear that Beale needs Lawrence back in the side to offer some added attacking dynamism.

The panic button won't need to be pressed just yet, but another one or two poor results against St Johnstone and Real Betis, once the international break is over, could potentially derail the season before it has even really started.

Lawrence should be given an opportunity in the starting XI and there is no doubt he could carry on where he left off before his injury woes.

Leeds United’s American influence could give them the edge when trying to sign Weston McKennie from Juventus, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: McKennie linked with Leeds

The 24-year-old has struggled to make himself a key figure at Juventus, even though he has started eight Serie A games this season, so an exit from Turin could be imminent.

Leeds are one of the clubs who have been linked with acquiring McKennie’s signature as Jesse Marsch looks to bolster his squad options, potentially in January.

A new update from another journalist has further suggested that the USA international could end up in a Whites shirt.

The Latest: Leeds could have one advantage

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke backed Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta to sign McKennie because of the strong American contingent already at Elland Road in the form of manager Jesse Marsch, fellow players Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, and the stakeholding of 49ers Enterprises.

The journalist outlined:

“I’m sure Leeds will try and use that American connection to try and help any deal to get over the line if they do pursue a move for McKennie.”

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The Verdict: Could certainly help

While the American factor clearly won’t be the only reason for Leeds potentially signing McKennie, it probably can’t do any harm overall.

The fact that Marsch, Aaronson and Adams are all compatriots could make it easier for the Juventus man to settle if he comes to Elland Road, and a move to the Premier League may also appeal to him.

It isn’t overly difficult to envisage McKennie joining Leeds, although the fact that he is currently at a Champions League club could mean that he wants the same elsewhere, having been described as ‘dangerous’ on set pieces by Clint Dempsey.

The Whites’ cause may also be hindered by their current struggles, which have seen them plummet into the Premier League relegation zone.

Glasgow Rangers may be struggling in Europe this season and progressing through the Premiership campaign trailing their rivals, however, there is cause for some optimism at Ibrox, especially with the quality of players that are coming through the youth system.

Last season, Alex Lowry, Charlie McCann, and Adam Devine all made their first team debuts, while 18-year-old Leon King made his under Steven Gerrard the season before.

It could be a fruitful generation of youngsters that can emerge and save the Ibrox side millions in transfer fees, with one in particular earmarked for a bright future…

Rangers’ new Ally McCoist

McCoist is the Light Blues’ greatest-ever goal scorer and aside from perhaps Kris Boyd, the club have been searching for a Scottish striker who can fill those godlike boots.

Youngster Robbie Ure has plenty of potential to give it a good go anyway, with the striker netting six goals for the B team in the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League already this season.

Van Bronckhorst gave the player his debut in the first team for the League Cup match against Queen of the South in August and he announced himself to the Ibrox faithful by scoring the opener in an eventual 3-1 victory.

Scott Arfield described the youngster’s performance up front as “magic” in an interview after the match and while he hasn’t had any further opportunities for the first team, they will come with time.

With a League Cup quarter-final tie coming up against Dundee on Wednesday, Van Bronckhorst might find the need to rotate a few players and Ure could well be handed some more minutes.

While the 355 goals that ‘Super Ally’ scored for the club might be a tad out of reach – although you never know – Ure certainly has the sheer predatory instinct and goalscoring hunger that McCoist had throughout his esteemed career.

Indeed, his nine goals in 21 matches so far during the embryonic stages of his career are certainly eye-catching and suggests there is a bright future in the game for the teenager.

There will be more chances for the player this season, especially with injuries and suspensions likely to come into play, and the onus will be on Ure to grab those opportunities with both hands.

If he is successful, there is no doubt he can generate the club millions in a future transfer fee. Certainly, if he lives up to the early McCoist comparisons, a large offer will likely be forthcoming from south of the border.

Tottenham Hotspur cemented third place in the Premier League standings after they got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening.

Antonio Conte’s side have Harry Kane to thank after the England striker’s looping 22-minute header sealed all three points on the south coast, ending a rather tough week both on and off the pitch.

The Italian head coach was forced into at least one change before kick-off due to Emerson Royal’s three-game suspension after the Brazilian right wing-back was sent off during their north London derby defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

In came the rarely-seen Matt Doherty and boy did he make a statement against the Seagulls.

It would have been a tough conundrum for Conte to solve leading up to the game. He could’ve easily trusted the experience of Ivan Perisic to get it done on the right, as he did against Leicester City before the international break, or he could have even turned to summer signing Djed Spence.

But it was the Irishman who got the nod, starting his first game for the Lilywhites since last season’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa back in March.

Doherty caught the eye going forward, often making a mazy run down the flank and he even went close to opening the scoring after he fired a volley over the bar from Ryan Sessegnon’s cross.

Whilst, it was defensively where he stood out most, as he put in a huge tackle to deny Leandro Trossard from shooting eight yards out in what would’ve likely been a devastating equaliser.

The 30-year-old also registered three interceptions, a feat only bettered by central midfield monster Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as well as two clearances and one block, as per SofaScore.

Given the inconsistencies and doubts over £26m signing Emerson, who former Spurs man Jamie O’Hara lambasted as a “complete liability” after the Arsenal defeat, it could be Doherty’s time to shine as he clearly took the golden opportunity handed to him by Conte.

The £65k-per-week defender was once slammed himself as the “weak link” of ex-manager Jose Mourinho’s side but in this wing-back favoured system, he should ultimately thrive.

Albeit “rusty” at times, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star could prove to be the solution to the right wing-back woes with the fixtures coming thick and fast over the next few weeks.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: £100k-per-week “monster” was Spurs’ driving force in Brighton win…

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘confident’ of securing a deal for James Maddison in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Leicester double swoop?

The St James’ Park outfit registered interest in both the 25-year-old and his Leicester City team-mate Youri Tielemans in the summer.

They reportedly put in an official bid for the Englishman, which was rejected by the Foxes, while they were linked with a late swoop for the Belgian on Transfer Deadline Day.

The Latest: Maddison confidence

Taking to Twitter, journalist Owen O’Brien has revealed that Newcastle are now ‘confident’ of securing a January deal for Maddison, who has rejected another contract offer from Brendan Rodgers’ side, while the Magpies also ‘remain interested’ in Tielemans.

The Medium reporter tweeted: “Newcastle are confident of completing a January deal for James Maddison – Understand the 25yo has rejected another contract proposal from Leicester – Newcastle also remain interested in Youri Tielemans.”

The Verdict: Get both in!

Getting both Maddison and Tielemans through the door would not only strengthen Newcastle, but also significantly weaken one of their fellow Premier League rivals as well.

The latter’s contract expires in the summer, so signing a player of his quality and experience in January – possibly for a cut-price fee if his contract situation isn’t resolved – would be a real bargain.

Meanwhile, Maddison could really make a difference in the middle of the park, bagging three goals and one assist in the Premier League in a struggling Leicester side, for whom he currently ranks as the best-performing player in the top flight, just ahead of…Tielemans (WhoScored).

Signing both players from the King Power Stadium would send out a real statement of intent from PIF to the rest of the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has revealed a possible inclusion for winger Bryan Gil in tonight’s Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Lowdown: Lack of game time

Having joined Spurs on a permanent deal last summer, the Spaniard was sent out on loan to Valencia for the second half of last season, where he made 13 appearances in La Liga.

The 21-year-old was seemingly set to return to Spain again this season, but a deal fell through at the last minute.

Consequently, stuck at Hotspur Way, the winger is yet to play a single minute of football for Tottenham thus far this season.

The Latest: Conte’s news

Ahead of Spurs’ Champions League clash against Frankfurt, Conte took to his press conference to give his assessment of Gil, revealing he may play a part in the fixture.

As quoted by football.london, the Italian admitted:

“Still in the squad, Bryan Gil. Tomorrow he is the first option for our attack. Kulusevski is out. Moura is out. Moura will be out for a long time. It was the same for Kulusevski. We are talking about a young player a good prospect. We wanted to send him on loan to Valencia but the situation has changed. I trust in him, he is working very well. If we need the possibility to give him time, I trust him. He could play.”

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The Verdict: Good prospect for the future

When looking at Gil’s underlying stats for the past year, it is fair to say the youngster has shown glimpses of promise for the future.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe, the winger ranks in the 94th percentile for pressures per 90 and in the 88th percentile for dribbles completed, implying he is finally adding the physicality and directness Conte wants alongside his obvious technical skills.

With statistical comparisons to the likes of AC Milan’s Brahim Diaz and Everton’s Anthony Gordon, the 21-year-old certainly has the attacking flair to make it at the top level of European football.

Therefore, if Conte does end up giving him minutes against Frankfurt this evening, this will be a huge opportunity for the youngster to show Tottenham fans what he can do.

Everton confirmed another exit yesterday as Brazilian midfielder Allan joined United Arab Emirates club Al-Wahda on a permanent move away from Merseyside, and now Frank Lampard can concentrate on the next few months ahead in the Premier League.

Allan’s future at the club was hanging in the balance after the player failed to make a single appearance over the season so far, and it was clear his days were numbered after the club signed several new midfielders over the summer.

Amadou Onana, James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye all joined the Goodison Park outfit to compete for spots in the centre of the pitch in Lampard’s team and now that Allan is out of the picture, it could be the perfect opportunity for former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Gueye to lead the midfield.

Both Onana and Garner are just 21 years old and finding their feet in their positions, so having a senior player in the central role to not only guide them over the season ahead but offer experience and leadership will be an absolute dream for Lampard.

The Toffees boss has already gushed over the signing of Gueye hailing the 33-year-old following the player’s appearance in the Merseyside Derby:

“Idrissa Gana Gueye immediately displayed the experience and quality he will give us in his substitute appearance,” said Lampard.

“He’s fitted in like he’s never been away and will be a big player for us.”

The talented AFCON winner who was dubbed a “machine” by Mauricio Pochettino last season, ranks in the top 3% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for pass completion, as well as ranking in the top 10% for pressures and passes attempted.

With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that the Liverpool Echo’s Joe Rimmer once claimed he is “absolutely everywhere,” as he galivants about the pitch in swashbuckling fashion.

Over his two appearances for Everton so far, Gueye has tallied up a 94% pass completion rate in his half, making 2.5 interceptions and one tackle per game, as well as winning the large majority of his ground and aerial duels combined (83%).

With that being said, now that Allan has left the club Lampard must finally unleash Gueye in the team to allow him to build solid midfield partnerships with Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Garner over the season ahead. Indeed, he could be a really effective presence and influence for Everton.