Kemar Roofe set Rangers challenge as Philippe Clement explains Cyriel Dessers decision

Philippe Clement has challenged Kemar Roofe to seize his big chance after being handed a rare start at Dundee.

The injury-hit striker will lead the line for Rangers at Dens Park after being brought out of the cold in place of Cyriel Dessers. Roofe, 31, has managed just seven starts for the Light Blues all season but Clement hopes the 31-year-old can stay fit for the title run-in.

Much-maligned Dessers has been criticised for his inconsistency in front of goal but has still plundered a respectable 17 goals in his debut season. The £4.5million Nigerian has been heavily relied upon too, with Danilo suffering a long-term injury and Roofe absent for most of the year. And with a crucial run of games on the horizon, Clement is keen to freshen things up.

He told Sky Sports: "He had to play all the games. Danilo is already out for months, we needed Fabio on the sides because we lacked wingers. Kemar was not fit to play more minutes so Cyriel played almost everything. It's normal that at one moment you'll need some freshness.

"Now is the moment for Kemar to take and Cyriel will be hungry on the bench if necessary to take minutes, because I don't expect Kemar to be ready for 90 minutes after all the injuries he had this season and the last couple of seasons. So in that way, it's always making the puzzle and dividing the minutes, for sure in a week where you have three games in seven days."