George Overhill

Sun 28 August 2022 17:40, UK

Michael Beale believes that there is still plenty more to come at Rangers from outcast star Alfredo Morelos, despite his benching by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The Colombian forward was still on his way back from thigh surgery in March when he was sent off just 13 minutes into the 2-2 draw with Hibernian last weekend (20 August), which teammates felt was “stupid” and brought to a head issues behind the scenes, reportedly on fitness and attitude.

The manager spoke after Saturday’s (27 August) 4-0 win over Ross County and indicated that he will hold talks with the 26-year-old over his future at the club, and the signs suggest there is still a way back despite the contract talks that had been in process being shelved.

In the Scottish Mail on Sunday (28 August, p.142) former Steven Gerrard assistant, Beale, is quoted: “The boy people see in the media is not the boy I saw every day. He has that little devil/maverick inside him but then so do a lot of players. When we got there we saw a boy who needed a lot more discipline, which we gave him.

“He certainly improved his standards in terms of how he trained and looked after his body. He always had the hunger and desire when he went on the pitch. His record on the pitch speaks for itself.

“Alfredo can continue to be brilliant for Rangers. People say he needs to bring in a transfer fee but the goals he scores in Europe – that’s paying money to the club.”

Key man

Antonio Colak has taken to the club like it was no problem at all and his goalscoring exploits have helped push the absence of Morelos into the background.

Fans and coaches alike will hope that continues all season, but if the Croatian international were to be ruled out for any reason things would look very different.

Morelos remains unique in how the team can play when he is at his best, and as their record European goalscorer could be crucial for the return to the Champions League, so unless he has completely burned his bridges with teammates or the manager it would be more valuable to the club to have him in the squad than out of it.

There have been suggestions that he is personally ready to make amends to the fans and van Bronckhorst, which is probably exactly what the Dutchman hoped for in terms of a reaction to leaving him out of the must-win trip to Eindhoven last week.

It is far from the first time he has tested the patience of the club in his time, as Beale can attest to, but there is little suggestion that he actually sees the Light Blues and the supporters as anything other than a positive thing.

He of course needs to be kept in line if he is threatening to upset the whole, but with well over 100 goals and counting, getting him behaving and back involved for at least this season would be the best outcome.

Seeing himself on the outside looking in appears to have jolted him into seriousness again, so perhaps his reintroduction will see a renewed force, and potentially a new contract in good time.

In other Rangers news, another player who was left out of the squad this weekend is now wanted before the transfer window slams shut.