Ibrox View: Kris Boyd surely off the mark to ignore Rangers ace with divisive claim

RANGERS OPINION 

For a long time now, one of the hottest debates in Scottish football has centred around whether you would rather have Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos in your starting XI or his Celtic counterpart Odsonne Edouard.

Advocates for the Colombian frequently point to his superior record in front of goal, while detractors will likely make a point of Edouard’s superior disciplinary record and the fact the he is able to play more matches because of his more measured temperament.

You can certainly see both sides of the argument, but one man who has refused to be drawn into picking a side up until this point is ex-Ibrox star Kris Boyd.

It would appear that the pundit has finally made his choice, however, and has edged towards the Frenchman.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “Most Celtic fans would agree with me when I say Edouard has been the most influential player in the league. He steps up on the big occasion, scores important goals, links the play and is so good in possession.”

But is Boyd right to claim that Edouard is more influential than Morelos?

Certainly, the South American has fallen away in recent times, scoring just one goal since January, but taking a more holistic approach, we can see that he has arguably been better than Edouard this season.

Even taking into consideration his slump in 2020, Morelos still has more goals in all competitions than the Celtic man this season, as well as registering more shots on target per game, winning a higher percentage of his offensive duels, and managing a higher xG rating, as per Wyscout.

Sure, Edouard trounces him in the assist charts, but if you’re looking for a goalscorer who can carry a team on his back, it seems unfair to look any further than El Bufalo.

In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Alex Bruce reacts to major contract report on Gers ‘big asset’.