For many, the notion that Rangers would’ve evolved into such a swashbuckling unit without their former talisman Alfredo Morelos firing would’ve been fanciful.
For the last three seasons, the Colombian international has been the focal point of an Ibrox side which has criminally underperformed in the latter half of the campaign.
But this year the striker has played a more withdrawn role, dragging defenders out of position and allowing the Ibrox inside forwards in behind to wreak havoc.
However, there can be little doubting the fact that Morelos is having a stinker in front of goal this season.
The forward has somewhat lost the magic touch – particularly on domestic soil – where he has scored in only two of his 12 Scottish Premiership games this season.
There’s also a frustration about the forward on the pitch and off it, that sometimes comedically valuable stroppy face becoming an all-too-common sight.
In turn, that lovable cheeky smile is also becoming rarer by the match.
Morelos’ form was summed up by a wasteful and frustrating performance against Dundee United, where the forward really could’ve been sent off for a clash with defender Mark Connolly.
This was a flashback to Morelos of yore, the petulance overspilling into forearm flying fury and ammunition aplenty given to the usual detractors to demand he’s hung, drawn and quartered for his crimes.
The truth is, Rangers as a team have evolved past that over-reliance on a singular player or on Morelos himself, something which he appears to be struggling to evolve alongside.
Morelos hasn’t become a bad player or anything like that, there just appears to be something of a hangover lingering from that summer of discontent and the player isn’t playing with the usual spirit we’re used to.
We’re not here to bash our own players and we want nothing more than to see the wee man flying again, but perhaps a spell on the bench would be best for everyone.
Morelos needs to recapture his love of the game and find his feet this season; Rangers need to make sure that they’re being responsible with how they achieve that.
With £2.7m-man Cedric Itten chomping at the bit to impress, there’s a risk-free option there who is already giving Gerrard a selection headache.
The Dundee United debacle will only further the Swiss international’s cause to be given a chance to lead the line in a Rangers team increasingly less reliant on their Colombian forward.
However, with plenty of voices bemoaning Morelos for his performance against Dundee United, there have been a few leaping to the striker’s defence.
