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News
‘I’m glad he is back’: Van Bronckhorst delighted to be able to pick 25-year-old Rangers player again
Alfredo Morelos made an emphatic return to club football yesterday, scoring two and assisting one as Rangers swept aside Hearts .
Morelos had missed the last three Rangers games due to being called up to the Colombian national side for their recent World Cup qualifiers.
Morelos failed to make the final cut for Colombia and had to watch the Peru and Argentina games from the stands. While Alfie was sitting in the stands thousands of miles away, Rangers were surrendering a six-point lead at the top of the table.
After returning from the winter break, Rangers had dropped points at Pittodrie and Dingwall, and had barely seen off Livingston at Ibrox if not for a wonder goal from Scott Arfield.
Alfredo missed the games at County and Livingston and fans had hoped Rangers would be able to come to an agreement with the Colombian national side to have Alfredo for the Old Firm game. However, it was not to be, and Rangers faced Celtic without their talisman.
Morelos was a massive loss as Celtic cruised to a 3–0 win over Rangers, with their defenders not coming under any pressure whatsoever. Rangers showed a lack of fight and desire and were bullied all night, something that never happens to Alfredo Morelos on a park.
Morelos returns
Rangers tweeted Morelos was back and available for the Hearts game and fans were optimistic, he would get us back on track in the title race. Having Morelos available is pivotal to Rangers in chasing down our 56th title and automatic Champions League qualification.
Morelos started the game like a man possessed, he instantly won Rangers a corner and rallied the crowd with his arms in the air, he set the tone.
It wasn’t long until Morelos had put Rangers ahead. A great bit of vision from left back Calvin Bassey slipped in Ryan Kent who drilled it low across the box for the arriving Morelos to make it 1–0.
Rangers should have had the game over by half-time. However, Hearts came back into the game in the first 10mins of the second half and had chances to equalise.
However, Morelos would break their hearts in the 64th minute, getting the break of the ball on the edge of the box he curled the ball into the corner, a cultured finish from the Colombian.
Morelos and Rangers were relentless, and he really should have had his hat-trick but was denied by Craig Gordon.
Morelos then turned provider, a wee flick around the corner to an advancing Glen Kamara who had just came on as a sub, Kamara was composed and put it away to score a rare goal, Rangers went on to win the game 5–0 and Alfredo Morelos marked his comeback with a well-deserved man of the match award.
Praise from the manager
Manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, who had come under pressure this week in the aftermath of the Old Firm defeat praised the striker on his return
“We know what kind of threat he gives us upfront and we missed him for the last week. But I’m glad he is back and when we attack with his movement and ability to keep the ball, we can play off of him.”
Morelos has been in since GVB’s arrival at the club, registering eight goals and three assists in ten games under the manager. He looks happy and settled and much fitter than he has in recent times.
No one like Alfredo Morelos
There is no player at Ibrox like Alfredo Morelos. No one can do what he can do, and that is an issue for Rangers.
Five transfer windows Ross Wilson has overseen, and we have failed to bring in any suitable competition for Alfredo. When he is not in the squad we struggle as has been evidenced by two semi-final losses to Aberdeen and Celtic, and two quarter-final defeats to St Mirren and Hearts.
When he left for international duty Rangers had a cushion at the top of the table, when he returned Rangers had lost their position at the top and were going into the Hearts game with a four-point deficit, albeit a game in hand.
He needs help as he can’t be expected to carry the club himself. Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten and Fashion Sakala have all been brought in to try and help lessen the expectations on Morelos, but none have been able to do so consistently.
If Rangers are to go on and win the league this season it is vital that Morelos remain fit and available. Our negligence in recent transfer windows has put an unhealthy and unfair expectation on one man to deliver, but if there is a player that can take on that expectation, as shown yesterday when the club was under severe pressure — it is Alfredo Morelos.