Alfredo Morelos could’ve played final match for Rangers – pundit
We’re delighted to welcome Tam McManus as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Alfredo Morelos won’t play for Rangers again once Antonio Colak is fit enough to replace him in the starting line-up, according to Tam McManus.
Morelos, 26, is out of contract at the end of the season and doesn’t look as though he’ll be extending that deal amid a seriously poor run of form at Ibrox.
The Colombia striker has also been criticised for his lack of fitness, with McManus suggesting the centre-forward added even more weight over the Christmas period based on how unfit he looked against Celtic on Monday (2 January).
“I don’t know where to start. He was really poor,” McManus told Ibrox News.
“There have been Old Firm games in the past where he’s not scored but he’s contributed a lot going forward.
“He had some chances he should have done better at, particularly the second header when he heads it wide up against Greg Taylor.
“It’s just that he’s not fit enough – he’s not conditioned to play football.
“If you’re a Rangers supporter and you’re seeing him waddling around the park… He can’t run, he has no pace to get away from defenders, he doesn’t have the fitness or energy levels to run for 90 minutes.
“I was really surprised they never got Colak on. I just think he’s got to get fitter and once Colak is back in the team, I don’t think we’ll see Morelos again.
“He’s only playing because he’s the only striker they’ve got at the minute.
“Morelos looks as if he had a good Christmas and he looks as if he’s been on the pigs in blankets.
“He’s got to lose weight, he’s got to tone up and I think you’ll see a sharper Morelos.
“But does he want to do it? That’s the thing. I don’t think he does.”
Morelos has scored five goals in 24 appearances across all competitions this season while Colak, 29, has netted 14 in the same number of appearances, albeit with more starts.
Colak hasn’t played in the league since before the World Cup break but he was on the bench against Celtic on Monday.
He could return to the starting line-up on Sunday (8 January) when the Gers face Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership at Tannadice.
In other Rangers news, the Gers want to sign this South American ace who’s playing in Europe.