Richard Foster blasts Rangers for handling of Alfredo Morelos fitness
Rangers haven’t handled the fitness of Alfredo Morelos well and are facing a ‘massive loss’ after his muscle injury, according to Richard Foster.
Morelos missed the recent Colombia international after being diagnosed with ‘muscle overload’, despite being selected in the squad and travelling across continents.
Ex-Rangers ace Foster was speaking on PLZ Football Show, when he suggested that Morelos has been carrying an injury for a while and that the club are risking his long-term fitness by not looking after him.
“You’ve seen it in the last European game,” he said.
“He came off with 10 minutes to go, and he was sort of stretching like he was in a bit of discomfort. I was surprised he played against Dundee.
“Rangers are a better side when he plays. I know Roofe and Sakala have come in, but Rangers are a better side when he is in form.
“It’s surprising that he would travel thousands of miles for them to say he has got muscle fatigue. Surely if he has muscle fatigue Rangers have a word with Colombian FA and say ‘we will keep him here and look after him.’
“He’s travelled there, but it doesn’t sound good that he’s there and they say he’s fatigued.
‘It’s not only what you’d miss in terms of productivity, it’s a team player, and someone like Morelos would be a massive loss to Rangers.”
Huge blow
The last time there was an international break, Rangers ended up being without Morelos for a couple of games and it cost them big time.
That included the Old Firm derby that saw them get absolutely battered 3-0 at Celtic Park, so they’ll be keen for revenge in the first game back after this break when they host the league leaders at Ibrox.
Without Morelos though they face a much tougher task of earning a victory and catching their points tally late on in the season, so they need to manage their key players much better.
The 25-year-old has looked tired in recent weeks despite his fine performances and Van Bronckhorst needs to start trusting his bench more to afford top players a break.
Without Morelos this side is much worse off because nobody has the same profile that he does in forward areas and his influence is so great it could be the difference between titles or nothing.
In other Rangers news, this journalist has shared the chances of Rangers loanee extending his stay beyond this season