Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is facing a major selection dilemma regarding the no.9 role ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Premiership fixture against Dundee United.
With both Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent almost certain to return to the support roles, it looks to be a shootout between Alfredo Morelos and Cedric Itten for the shirt, although Jermain Defoe also has an outside chance of playing.
Prior to Thursday evening’s Europa League clash against Lech Poznan, Morelos would have been the big favourite to start at Tannadice.
The 24-year-old has only scored twice in his last 14 appearances, with his goal contributions dropping off considerably from last season.
His role within the team has changed, though, and he has been making an impact in other ways, dragging defenders out of position to create space and goalscoring opportunities for teammates.
However, when El Bufalo was rested in Poznan, Itten grabbed his opportunity with both hands.
The Switzerland international scored an excellent goal and produced a much more traditional striker’s performance, holding the ball up excellently and lurking in the opposition’s the six-yard box.
His only Premiership starts to date have come out wide in fixtures against Kilmarnock, but Gerrard raved about his showing through the middle and suggested that it had proved he was deserving of more playing time than the 564 minutes he’s received since signing from St Gallen in August [RangersTV].
Jermain Defoe is the outside bet for the weekend, with the veteran fresh and in form.
He stayed behind when the team travelled to Poland and has scored in his last two outings against Falkirk and Ross County.
All three players could feature at some point, but in terms of which one gets the nod in the starting XI, Gerrard has a big decision on his hands.
This isn’t the only selection dilemma the manager has on his hands, either, with two key players available once again for the first time in weeks.
