Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has praised Alfredo Morelos ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Royal Antwerp and claimed that there’s much more to come from the striker [Herald].
Morelos has had a mixed season so far and has split opinion amongst the Rangers support at times.
His current tally of 12 goals is less than half of the number he had scored by this stage last season, while he’s had fitness and discipline issues at various stages of the campaign.
However, the 24-year-old’s link-up play is crucial to Rangers’ style and his goalscoring touch is returning, as he’s netted five times in his last seven Premiership appearances.
Speaking ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Antwerp, his manager has drawn attention to the Colombia international’s much-improved all-round game and his potential to develop further in the coming years.
“When you are talking about a talent like Alfredo, people automatically just judge him on goals,” said Gerrard [Herald]. “But as his manager who works with him every day, I think he has evolved in the time he has been here.”
“We have tried to support him and guide him because people forget how old he was when we arrived and how old he is now. He is still at a stage in his career where he can get better, physically, mentally, tactically and technically. There are still big compartments of his game that he can improve. That’s the exciting thing.”
“But there is no doubt he has evolved. He has improved his link-up play, improved tactically without the ball in terms of what the team needs and demands from him.”
Gerrard himself admitted that Morelos’ head had been turned by transfer speculation during the summer [Glasgow Live], which affected his early-season performances in Light Blue.
However, while his lack of on-field discipline is still a concern and a source of frustration for many fans, it’s no coincidence that Rangers have started scoring goals again since he returned from his latest suspension.
The Gers play better with El Bufalo leading the line and he will be looking to step up to the plate once again under the lights at Ibrox on a big Europa League night, with a place in the Last 16 up for grabs.
Ahead of the game, check out our Predicted XI as well as our Preview Video over on the Rangers News YouTube channel.
