Michael Beale has revealed Kemar Roofe suffered a groin injury in the Viaplay Cup win over Livingston.

The striker returned to the starting line-up at Ibrox but was forced off at half time through the knock.

And Beale admitted he has had a discussion with Roofe over the injury having discovered the striker felt the injury midway through the first period but played on until the break.

However, Beale is hopeful Ridvan Yilmaz - who was subbed off 15 minutes from time - will be available at the weekend.

He told Viaplay: "Kemar has a slight problem with his groin. He felt it probably midway through the first half and he probably should have asked to come off in all fairness. We have had that chat.

"With Ridvan, we think it is just a touch of cramp so hopefully he will be fine."

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Beale then urged football chiefs to consider the packed fixture schedule for clubs as he called for players to be "protected".

It comes with Rangers and Aberdeen set to play their fourth match in ten days when the clubs meet on Saturday.

The Ibrox boss added: "By the time we play Aberdeen on Saturday it will four games in ten days, the only thing for us is the games have been at home.

"It's not the schedule we make so we have to get on with it. but if we look at the amount of injuries that will either happen in these games or the next three or four games afterwards...

"Just things like this weekend, could our game with Aberdeen have been moved back 24 hours because they have had the same schedule, they had to travel out to Germany as well and been up to Germany tonight. 

"If we want to see the product on the pitch I think we need to protect our players a little bit more."