By Noel Whelan

8th Mar, 2022 | 1:45pm

Rangers news: Pundit tips Kemar Roofe to 'explode' amid 'massive' Celtic claim

Kemar Roofe could become “invaluable” to Rangers in the title race if he can score regularly, according to Noel Whelan.

The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Ibrox side are struggling to compete with the “massive” number of goal threats possessed by rivals Celtic.

Roofe, 29, netted only his seventh Scottish Premiership goal of the season with the winning goal in Rangers’ 1-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday (5 March).

The striker scored 18 goals in 36 games last term but has struggled to stay fit this season.

Rangers have leant heavily on the influence of talisman Alfredo Morelos, who has participated in almost a third of the Gers’ league strikes.

Whelan suggested Roofe is the type of player who could go on a scoring “run” after his emphatic return from injury.

“Right now, Celtic are flying when it comes to the massive number of players chipping in with goals,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“It’s not to say that Morelos has been the only goalscorer for Rangers, but to get Roofe scoring regularly would be invaluable for Rangers right now.

“He’s a player who can go on a run for three or four games. We’ve seen it before – not just at Rangers but also at Leeds United.

“The title race is well and truly on, and it’s exciting. It’s blow for blow, punch for punch – and Rangers can’t afford to have the goals dry up.

“If Roofe can get scoring and really explode, as I think he can, that will be a really welcome commodity for Gio van Bronckhorst.”

Rangers face Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday (10 March).

The Ibrox club trail their Old Firm rivals by three points in the race for the Scottish Premiership.

In other news, ex-Gers boss shares “crippling” fears before Red Star showdown.