Q&A: Michael Beale on Roofe, Ridvan and Davies interest

Here is everything he had to say.

What's the latest with Kemar Roofe?

He's away for a scan so no news on that one at the minute. He didn't train today with the rest of the team.

Are you optimistic he can feature this weekend?

Until we hear back from the scan we don't know what we're dealing with. It's disappointing for Kemar because he came back into the team and did so well until the other night. Let's just hope it's nothing too serious and he'll be available in the short term rather than the long term.

Is tomorrow too soon?

Tomorrow is too soon, yeah.

How frustrating is it?

It's frustrating because he's such a big player and such a very good player. It's hard because he's not been available as much as he would've liked for three managers, not just myself. It looked like he was in a really good place and contributing well so let's just hope he's just felt a niggle and come out. The right thing is to get the scan and he's off for that this afternoon.

Is it an exciting opportunity for others to show what they can do?

Kemar's not been in the goals as much, the other strikers have scored more goals this season. It's another opportunity for them. It's a busy schedule, we were going to have to use the squad anyway. Certainly in the forward areas are the main areas we're depleted. We've got good cover across the back, we've got 10 fit defenders at the moment. If you wanted to shuffle the pack around a bit you'd like to have one or two forwards fit but it is what it is. It's Aberdeen's fourth game in the last eight, nine, 10 days as well or whatever it is so both teams coming into this game this weekend have the same issues in terms of recovery and playing again. Then we have a nice break until we play away at Limassol.

Does this period of matches serve as a wake-up call to the new players?

They've just got to focus on their daily work in-house and their role in the team. If they perform well in their role in the team everything will take of itself. The outside noise and opinions are always going to be there.

How important is it to build on Wednesday night and is the performance important as well?

Yes, but you have to define what a good performance is. Clean sheets and defending are part of good performances. Sometimes we don't think that because we want to be in full control but in games of football there are always going to be difficult moments. That's why we were so pleased the other night in the quarter-final. I don't think Livingston had a shot on target which in any game of football is a difficult thing to do because of set-plays and teams can be a little bit direct. That's part of a good performance so if we define a performance as free-flowing attacking football, scoring three or four goals every week, that's a different way of looking at it. I think tomorrow where we're at at this moment in time, of course, we want to perform well but the points are the most important thing. With the players that we've got out it's important that we're strong defensively and that we create chances with the forwards that we've got. We don't have a number of players in the final third that are a big part of what we're trying to do, that's just obvious for everyone to see right now.

READ MORE: Q&A: Sam Lammers details Rangers pressure and previews Aberdeen tie

Have you been surprised by how good your defence has been and do you need to work more on the attack?

A good team is always built on a solid foundation defensively. In Europe, in the last while we've not always been strong defensively so it was good to get the clean sheet against Betis because they're a dangerous team. Domestically, we've had clean sheets and we've only conceded the odd ones here and there. Even those goals we'd probably look back on disappointed about the way they went in. So far so good, I think we've got the least shots on our goal and our goalie is doing well but at this moment in time, he's facing the least shots which means the team in front of him is also doing well.

Do you expect Aberdeen to open up?

They're a team that's built around their front two. They've got good players, they've come off an important week for them. I thought they performed very well in Europe. It was a defeat but in terms of the performance, it'll give them a lot of encouragement and then they've beaten Ross County twice this week so they come into it the same as us. Their front two have caused us problems in the past as well from last season. The games have always been close and we know there's always a little bit of edge in the air and it's the same between the fans which I think is healthy as well.

How impressed have you been with Ben Davies recently?

I think during the international break it was an area we wanted to look at. Obviously, we just conceded goals in big games that were partly our doing so, as a whole group, there was a focus on our out-of-possession, our pressing, our shape, our distances and there's been a lot of focus on the team's rhythm in possession. A lot of that we have to allow those relationships, and we still are, to form but defensively we feel we could pull ourselves together as a team so I've been pleased with that. Ben coming back in has been part of that. The reason he hadn't played prior was because he ended last season with an injury and came back to pre-season with a separate one so he's only been available for these games. I've been pleased with him. It's been a real team effort, not just him.

Any update on Nico Raskin, Kieran Dowell, Todd Cantwell and Danilo?

There's no change on either of them. Danilo's still not back to see a consultant yet so I'll have more news after that. He has to wait a couple of weeks after the surgery which is not until the middle or start of next week. Todd's not back with the group yet. Nico's back out with the rehab team and Kieran Dowell joined in very light training this morning but the weekend's far too soon.

Will Tom Lawrence also be available after the international break?

Yeah, at this moment he is the same.

Abdallah [Sima] mentioned the other night how the goal gave him a confidence boost. Do any of the other players need something similar?

I think in terms of goals per minute, Cyriel [Dessers] and Sima have done well and before he got injured, Danilo was doing well... as good as anyone in the league.

Would they like to have done more and have they had opportunities to do more?

Yeah, I think they have and I would agree with that. Where we are right now is that Cyriel, Abdallah and Sam [Lammers] have an opportunity to play and through that will give them rhythm. I thought Sam was good the other night and, at times, Abdallah's running and pace were very important to the match as well. There are opportunities for them and [Jose] Cifuentes is getting stronger the more he gets to know the team. I thought the midfield functioned well the other night and it was nice to Ridvan [Yilmaz] come back into the team and get a goal. I did not really mention that after the game but it was a fantastic strike and his first for Rangers. He showed the differences he can bring to the team compared to Borna [Barisic]. Having said that I thought Borna's pass for the third goal was a particularly good pass as well as so we seem to have some strength in that area at left-back. I keep telling everyone, at some point you need to give them an opportunity to show it. Dujon Sterling is a heck of a player who is competing with James Tavernier. In the full-back positions, I think we have strength now.

Do you have a decision to make at left-back?

Yeah, I have a decision to make. They are both... Borna went away [international duty] with a niggle that has not really gone away and Ridvan is picking up on his fitness so it is one we are managing. We will probably continue to manage that up until the international break. We will have to be careful when we play either one.

There was some noise over the summer about Ben Davies leaving the club. How close was that to happening?

When I came into the club, Ben had played the first 17 or 18 games straight out. Our record at that time, if you remember, was very strong. He built a relationship with Connor [Goldson] very quickly. At the end of the season, he was injured and he came back with another injury. There was a lot of noise in the air about us looking for another left-sided centre-back so I think people got confused with us wanting to replace Ben. We just wanted another left-sided centre-back because when he was injured last season we had to play people on the wrong side and I wanted balance. My relationship with Ben has always been strong. We had some honest conversations about where he can improve but as he said himself it was never in the plans to sell him. You also have to have an offer that is right and I think with every club at a player in Scotland, if the offer is right, then you listen. There was never an offer there and Ben was just focusing on getting fit if I am honest. So there was interest but not...The interest was not there and Ben wanted to be here which was a key thing for me as it was a season of change. I wanted to make sure we had the right people in the building and with Ben's play I do not think anyone question him. I think his performances over the last four games have been excellent and he has shown his worth so I think all that noise needs to disappear if he keeps playing like that. The first 20 games should have proven that really because he played in every single one of them.

READ MORE: Rangers' width: Michael Beale's plan to give Ibrox side wide threat

Did Kemar Roofe play with an injury for part of the first half?

Listen, when I spoke to him after the game he said he "felt it halfway through the first half". I would like him to hold his hand up. He felt he could continue on and half time I asked him if there was an issue and he said "Yes". We came out in the second half and did not take a risk with him. It was not a typical Kemar performance. Obviously, Sam and Abdallah were getting more touches. He was a bit quiet in the game and he was obviously a bit stiff in his groin which is an area that has never been an issue before and it is what it is. With the scheduled amount of games that we are playing, that is why you have a big squad because these things will appear from time to time.

Was it his injury record that pushed him to play on?

I don't know as I think he knows the moment the team are living it. It is a cup quarter-final and he wants the team to do well. I am sure if he felt he had to stop then he would have stopped. Kemar is an experienced player and when he gets to half-time he has the conversation and no problem we have Dessers to come on. It is a quarter-final as he told you the day before and it is a competition we are desperate to win so I do not think he wanted to come off until we get to the stoppage and we have the conversation.

What have you made of Alex Lowry's loan spell at Hearts so far?

I spoke to Steven Naismith at length before he went out to make sure it was right for all parties. It was a chance for him to go and play in the league at a big club and showcase what he can do. I thought he started well but I have not followed or asked why he has not played as much of late I think they are fighting for a bit of form with their schedule around Europe. I went last week to the St Mirren game and he did not get on but obviously, he got on [in the League Cup] in the last minute and scored straight away so he is learning what it is like to fight for a shirt and he is learning what it is like to be outside the confines of Rangers, which is important for him growing up as a young man and young football player. In moments he has shown that he has real good promise and in other moments he has shown that he needs to improve, learn and fight for a shirt. All of that is brilliant for Alex Lowry.

How important was the performance against Livingston ahead of the international break?

I think we are in the middle of a big schedule and we are focusing on the next game. It is pleasing what has gone before, in terms of the four results and the clean sheet. It was nice to score a few goals. The game was very similar to the previous match against Livingston where they tried to make it hard for us. When they opened up in the second half to chase the game the bigger area gave us space to punish them. I was pleased about Ryan Jack scoring in the game as well. The game proved that when Livingston sit in they can make it difficult for you and with Sima's speed we were able to show variety.