Exclusive: Derby County striker future coming to an end due to “wages” factor

Lee Hendrie has admitted that Kemar Roofe’s future at Derby County should depend on his fitness and availability to the team.

The former Rangers striker was signed by the Rams on a short-term deal in early February to bolster John Eustace’s front line. However, since his arrival, he has managed just two appearances and currently finds himself sidelined with a hamstring injury he sustained in early March.

The 32-year-old will be hoping he still has the chance to return this season and contribute to Derby’s bid for survival, which has taken a positive turn in recent weeks. Three successive wins before the international break have given them hope, and Eustace will be eager to have Roofe as an option up front.

His previous record in the Championship is actually quite respectable, as he managed 29 goals and 11 assists across 110 appearances in the division for Leeds United. He also managed to net a further 38 in 102 games for Rangers, so if he can rediscover his form there is no reason he can’t be an influential figure.

However, with his deal expiring in the summer and his injury record evident, Derby will be weighing up whether they should offer him a fresh contract.

Lee Hendrie outlines key factor behind Derby’s Roofe decision

Speaking exclusively to Football League World about Roofe’s future at Pride Park, former Rams midfielder Lee Hendrie admitted that Derby should only offer him a contract based on his fitness.

“Kemar Roofe has struggled to get himself going and is obviously injured now,” Hendrie exclusively told FLW.

“Do they give him a deal in the summer? I think that will depend on where they finish and whether he can get himself fit.

“Again, he is a player with potential and experience, and you do feel that if he is capable of getting fit and showing his fitness levels are there, he could be an asset. But it boils down to the wage structure they have and what wages he would want.

“It is an interesting one and a tough one to call.

“If someone comes in, you want them to hit the ground running – that gives the club a good platform to assess their potential. But that hasn’t been the case, so the club may steer in another direction.”

Kemar Roofe will need to contribute in final games of the season for Derby

Unfortunately for Roofe, he has managed just eight minutes on the pitch for Derby, and his injury came at a particularly inconvenient time.

As mentioned earlier, since that point, he has missed three consecutive victories, and it remains unclear when he will return. For his future, he needs it to be sooner rather than later with the conclusion of the season just eight games away.

Currently, the Rams are sitting just one point from safety and Roofe will be looking at these remaining fixtures as his chance to be a hero.

If he is the one to fire them to another season in the second tier, Derby would have little choice but to keep him. However, if he remains sidelined for the rest of the campaign, the conclusion seems inevitable.