Ally McCoist wants Alfredo Morelos brought back to Rangers immediately for injury assessment
Alfredo Morelos should be put on the “first flight back” from international duty for Rangers to check on his injury says Ally McCoist.
The Colombian striker picked up a muscle injury away with his country, according to W Radio Colombia journalist Pipe Sierra on Twitter, and had to miss the win over Bolivia last night.
That has raised fears over the forward’s availability for the upcoming Old Firm derby against Celtic (3 April) which will be crucial in the title race, and Gers legend McCoist doesn’t want to take any chances.
He told Football Scotland: “Generally speaking, he hasn’t been playing in the national team and I thought initially that was the reason he hadn’t been picked.
“Then I read it was an injury concern. Call me old fashioned but if that’s the case, I’d have him on the first flight back to have a look at him and assess him.
“But I don’t know how it works these days with international players – they can sometimes go AWOL you know!”
Waste of energy
Players are of course entitled to fulfil the honour of representing their country.
But this is the second successive international break that has brought nothing but frustration for El Bufalo.
He travelled to South America to be part of the Colombian squad in January also, but didn’t see a minute of action.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side struggled in his absence, and if he has picked up a knock that keeps him out for any preiod this time it could have dire implications for the club’s chances in the three competitions they have left.
Surely some agreement could be reached with the Colombian authorities to see him released.
With the club currently in the midst of navigating the fall out from a mess of their own making with regards to the Sydney Super Cup, fans likely don’t have high hopes of the leadership pulling that off.
In other Rangers news, a “valuable” young talent has left Ibrox on emergency loan.