West Brom had a shocker with Kemar Roofe

When Kemar Roofe left West Brom in 2015, few would have predicted that he can be on the point of characteristic within the Champions League seven years later.

The Baggies academy graduate was spectacular for the U21s throughout his time on the Hawthorns, hitting 24 targets and 16 assists in 78 appearances however he was by no means given an opportunity within the first group.

After a powerful mortgage spell at Oxford United within the 2014/15 season which noticed him hit six goals in 16 appearances, he would be part of the U’s on a permanent deal in the summertime of 2015.

One other excellent season in League Two was to come back, as Roofe managed 17 goals and ten assists for Oxford United as they earned promotion to League One.

His type within the fourth tier satisfied Leeds United to sign the ahead the next summer time and he would proceed his superb run within the Championship with the Whites, with the Baggies little doubt regretting not giving Roofe an opportunity at this level.

Had been West Brom fallacious to promote Roofe?

After hitting 33 targets and 14 assists for the Yorkshire membership, Roofe would transfer to Anderlecht the place he loved a fruitful however quick spell, scoring seven occasions in 16 outings earlier than his move to Rangers in 2020 the place he has since thrived.

So spectacular has he been that the attacker even scored from the midway line in continental competitors. Roofe was lauded for that second of brilliance towards Customary Liege within the Europa League by former boss Steven Gerrard.

He said: “He manages to take somebody on – and to then have the imaginative and prescient and audacity to attempt the strike within the first place, I simply assume that’s a second of genius.

“And it’s most likely the very best objective I’ve seen stay – and I’ve been knowledgeable since 1998. Unbelievable strike and he deserves all of the plaudits for it.”

Roofe has at all times supplied a goalscoring risk wherever he has been in his profession and has 34 Rangers goals to his title to this point, serving to the Gers win the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 after which serving to them to a Europa League last final time period.

He now seems to be set to make his Champions League debut this season after Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s facet sealed their spot within the group phases, which definitely doesn’t mirror properly on the Baggies. They let him go to a League Two facet regardless of his spectacular academy type, having by no means given him an opportunity to impress within the first group. This was definitely a switch howler from Albion.