STEVEN GERRARD has provided an injury update as his squad gets ready to face Hibs in the Scottish Premiership at Easter Road on Sunday, and the manager hopes to have Kemar Roofe available for selection.
The 27-year-old striker limped off in the first half of last night’s 5-0 Europa League win over Lincoln Red Imps with a calf problem, and Gerrard insists he did the right thing by not attempting to play on.
Speaking at the morning’s pre-match press conference at the club’s training ground, he also had positive news on Leon Balogun and Alfredo Morelos, saying: “On the back of last night we are very confident that Kemar will pull through.
“We think he has got that really early; he's just come off with a bit of tightness and I think he's been really sensible there.
"I said to the players that on that surface, having trained on it the day before, not to be taking any risks, so he has done the right thing.
“So we are confident on Kemar and we have just had an update on Leon Balogun. He'll clear with the physios today hopefully and he'll be available as well.
“Alfredo is fine. he's still got stitches in his knee but he played last night with no problems and will be available [on Sunday], which is impressive for the injury that he has got.
"Jack, Aribo and Barker are progressing but won't be with us for the weekend.”
Gerrard was delighted to see Morelos play the second half against Red Imps and bag two goals, having picked up a nasty gash on his leg in Saturday’s 4-0 league win over Dundee United at Ibrox.
The Colombian now has 20 European goals for the club, and Gerrard was thrilled to see him action last night: "I think that's a great visual for me all the time, when I see Alfredo smiling, when I see him enjoying his football and when I see him in good shape.
"We know he is a fantastic goalscorer and I think his goals were different last night, but they were two fantastic finishes.
“He's in the right place at the right time for the first one, which you don’t coach. I think you are born with that, where you sniff those goals out.
"The second finish he obviously shows his class and his touch, but even before a ball was kicked, just to make himself available. He's very robust and for a manager he is always there for you.
"I think a lot of players wouldn't have pulled through with what he had from the weekend, so I'm really pleased for him and it's great to see him smiling.
“I think he has a real good rapport with the players when he is out there on the pitch but he seems a lot happier in the last few weeks."
Gerrard believes that Hibs, currently sitting third in the Premiership table, will provide another great test for Rangers on their home patch on Sunday, but the manager feels his players will travel to the capital with spirits high after their terrific start to the 2020/21 season.
He added: "Hibs are a strong team, they are playing with confidence, they are playing with a lot of rhythm in the game.
“They have a good coach so it's going to be tough challenge for us going to Easter Road, but we are going there with confidence ourselves.
“We are playing well, we are defending well, we're looking a real good threat going forward, so we are going to Easter Road to attack and to win the game.
“My focus is certainly on us and we couldn't be in a better place going into it."