Kemar Roofe’s career has been plagued by frustrating setbacks since leaving Rangers last summer.
After an extended period without a club, he finally secured a move to Derby County in February, joining on a short-term deal until the end of the 2024/25 season.
However, his return to action has been less than ideal, with the striker managing just eight minutes of first-team football and now facing another stint on the sidelines due to injury.
Roofe’s move to Derby County marked a new chapter after a tumultuous end to his time at Rangers.
Once a pivotal figure for the Glasgow club, Roofe played a key role in their Europa League final run and was instrumental in their success, scoring vital goals and contributing significantly to the team.
In his first two seasons at Ibrox, after arriving from Anderlecht in August 2020, Roofe found the back of the net 34 times in 72 appearances. However, his time at Rangers became increasingly marred by injuries, with his playing time steadily diminishing.
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In the 2022/23 season, Roofe made just six appearances, a stark contrast to his earlier impact. His final season in Scotland saw him feature in 24 matches, but his performances were limited by recurring injury problems, leading to a less-than-ideal conclusion to his time at Rangers.
Despite the challenges, Roofe’s trophy haul at the club was impressive, with the centre-forward winning the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and League Cup during his stint in Glasgow.
His eventual move to Derby County in February was seen as a potential fresh start.
Unfortunately, his return to the pitch has been far from smooth.
Since arriving at Pride Park, Roofe has made only two brief appearances, totaling just eight minutes on the field.
Derby County manager John Eustace had hoped Roofe would provide experience and depth to his attacking options, but the striker’s ongoing injury struggles have made it difficult for him to get any meaningful game time.
Roofe’s most recent setback came ahead of Derby’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship on Saturday, when he pulled up with a hamstring injury during training.
Eustace confirmed the news after the match, also revealing that other players, Ben Osborn and Ryan Nyambe, had also picked up hamstring injuries and would be joining Roofe on the treatment table.
“Ben Osborn picked up a hamstring injury and will be out for eight weeks. Ryan Nyambe will be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury while Roofey pulled up on Friday with a hamstring injury as well,” Eustace said.
“It’s disappointing but we will make sure the group is ready to go again on Tuesday.”
At 32-years-old, it remains to be seen whether Roofe will choose to continue his career beyond the season at relegation-threatened Derby.
