Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure his first trophy in charge of the club as his side lost 2-1 in the League Cup final on Sunday.
The Hoops lost to their bitter rivals and went into the game with a number of injury issues. John Lundstram and Malik Tillman both started after their respective injuries, whilst Ryan Jack was only able to make the bench.
Kemar Roofe, meanwhile, did not make the matchday squad and his persistent injury issues could leave the manager with a big decision to make in the summer.
The Jamaica international has missed 45 competitive matches since the start of last season, after missing 14 in 2020/21, and has only played three games in the Premiership this term.
Roofe, who has scored 36 goals in 78 outings for the club in all competitions, is a good option for Beale to have when fit as the dynamo is a proven goalscorer but the £26k-per-week forward is, unfortunately, a liability with the manager not being able to rely on him to be available on a regular basis.
The Light Blues head coach could ruthlessly ditch the ex-Leeds striker in the summer by promoting B Team star Zak Lovelace to take his place in the first team.
Who is Zak Lovelace?
Rangers’ teenage centre-forward has been in phenomenal form this season since joining on a permanent deal from English side Millwall last summer.
The 17-year-old has proven himself to be a standout performer for both the B Team and the U18 side. He has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 27 B Team matches and produced six goals contributions in six U18 games.
Lovelace made his first-team debut in the League Cup earlier this season and was named on the bench in the 3-0 win over Livingston in the Premiership last month, although the youngster did not make an appearance in the match.
This suggests that the teenager has caught Beale’s eye and done enough in his outings for the academy to convince him that he has the potential to make the grade for the senior side.
His fantastic statistics for the youth team – 24 goal contributions in 33 games – suggest that the marksman has the potential to be an exciting player for the Light Blues, which is exactly how Ross Wilson described him in 2022 as the sporting director dubbed him an “exciting” young talent.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why Lovelace could be a future star for the Gers and thus, bringing him into the first-team fold to compete with Antonio Colak, and potentially Alfredo Morelos, could benefit his development by allowing the gem to learn from experienced professionals.
It would also allow Beale to ruthlessly ditch Roofe by either selling or loaning him out as the striker’s persistent injury issues are truly hampering the Light Blues.