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Glasgow Live
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Alan Galindo

David Templeton tips Kemar Roofe for Rangers start as he opens up on James Tavernier and Euro journey

David Templeton wouldn't be surprised to see Kemar Roofe in from the START as Rangers bid for Europa League glory.

The Light Blues striker was declared fit by Giovanni van Bronckhorst yesterday, in a major boost to the Ibrox side.

Questions remain over whether he will be pitched in from the off against Frankfurt in Seville later this evening.

But Templeton believes Van Bronckhorst will be wanting his best team out on the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium turf and that would include Roofe from the first whistle.

In an exclusive interview with Glasgow Live Sport, he said: "I think he (Roofe) was playing very well before his injury, which was unfortunate.

"But I wouldn't be surprised if he started tonight.

"The thing you don't want to do is think about keeping him for the last half hour and you could be losing by that point and it could maybe be too late.

"He (Gio) might be thinking about getting the best team out there and I think Roofe would be part of that. Try and go for it from the start and see how much you can get out of him."

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Templeton starred alongside James Tavernier during his spell as a Rangers player.

The Light Blues skipper is currently top of the scoring charts in the Europa League with seven goals to his name and he could land a double by lifting the major European trophy and the golden boot award tonight.

Tavernier continues to go from strength to strength in a Rangers jersey.

But Templeton says his talent was there for all to see from day one.

David Templeton in action during his spell as a Rangers player (David Templeton in action during his spell as a Rangers player)

He said: "He has always been good to be honest. When he first arrived I thought he was very good.

"Now he is playing with better players, so he is able to be better as well because of the players around him. That's only natural.

"He's always been very talented. I am surprised at the goals he is getting right enough.

"He always had a great strike and could finish, but the positions he takes up to get goals are unbelievable. That's obviously the way Rangers play.

"He is playing so high, coming in at the back post. It is incredible just how many goals he has got playing from right-back."

Rangers' journey over the past few years has been nothing short of incredible.

Templeton always envisaged that they would get back to the top of Scottish football and challenge for titles once again.

But he doesn't think anybody would have believed it if you told them back then that the Light Blues would be just potentially 90 minutes away from landing major European silverware.

Frankfurt stand in the way of the current crop creating history but after victories over Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, the Ibrox men will go into the game full of confidence.

"No, you would never have thought that to be honest", when asked about reaching the final.

"You always felt they would get back to where they belonged in terms of top of the league and challenging again.

"But you would never have imagined being in a major European final. I don't think anybody would have to be honest.

"Europe has seemed to suit them. I thought when they lost Alfredo Morelos they may have struggled a bit more.

"Kemar Roofe has came in and done well and in the past couple of games they have played with a false nine and been brilliant.

"I think the fact that teams come out and have a bit more of a go against them, it leaves space for the likes of Ryan Kent, who has also been brilliant in Europe this season.

I think that is why they have done so well. The way other teams play against them seems to suit.

"Away from home they have been very good defensively. The Dortmund game was massive for them.

"When they win that away game they probably believe they can beat anyone after that.

"Any time they have been at Ibrox they have been brilliant. They have scored early goals and get the fans right on their side.

"I think that hasn't helped away teams coming there. They've found it difficult because of how good the support is when Rangers go in front."

Asked his prediction for the showpiece, he added: "If Rangers come out fast, I think Frankfurt are a team who like to play on the counter-attack.

"It could be an interesting game but I am going to go for 2-1 Rangers.

"I think they can do it. They are strong enough and have been playing well."

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