Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has provided an exciting update on fan favourite Alfredo Morelos ahead of the Europa League Round of 32 first-leg clash against Royal Antwerp [RangersTV].
Morelos recently served a three-match domestic suspension, missing home wins over St Johnstone and Kilmarnock as well as an away draw with Hamilton.
The ban came after he was retrospectively charged with violent conduct by the SFA for an alleged stamp on Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous at Easter Road last month.
It was the latest in a long line of misdemeanours from the Colombia international, but he remains hugely popular with Gers supporters, as was shown by the responses to a tweet from the official UEFA Europa League account earlier this week.
There’s already plenty of anticipation surrounding his imminent return to action and Gerrard has confirmed that El Bufalo is raring to go.
“I know Alfredo is really champing at the bit to get back,” he said [RangersTV]. “Hopefully, he can make up for the time that he has lost.”
“I think he owes it to his teammates to come back in a good place and to try to finish the season in the best place he can.”
Morelos hasn’t been as prolific so far this campaign as he was last season, but he did score twice in Europa League qualifying and twice more during the group stages.
His presence was missed at the top end of the pitch while he served his suspension. Fortunately for him, though, it didn’t impact results too severely and with Cedric Itten not quite managing to grasp his opportunity, there’s every chance that the South American will come straight back into the team in Belgium.
Ahead of Thursday night’s clash, check out our Predicted XI and our Preview Video on the Rangers News YouTube channel.
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