Moments after entering the pitch on Saturday, Alfredo Morelos raised a leg to prevent a Hibernian defender from challenging James Tavernier on the touchline. It was an innocuous incident, but it provided a glimpse of what was to follow.
The Colombian has worked hard to eradicate the petulance that has harmed his reputation, but the red mist returned with a vengeance at Easter Road. With his team already a man-light, he foolishly raised an arm - catching Marijan Čabraja - and Willie Collum issued him the 8th red card of his Rangers career.
There have been occasions when Morelos has been unfortunate to encounter the wrath of officials, but his latest misdemeanour was of his own making. The forward was distracted from the moment he entered the field, and he required little provocation before reacting to the opposition.
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Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has omitted Morelos from the travelling squad due to fitness and attitude concerns for the Champions League play-off with PSV Eindhoven. The Dutchman admitted it was an ‘easy decision’ and challenged the forward to demonstrate his desire to pull on a blue jersey again.
It would appear Morelos has not been firing on all cylinders in training, and a glance at his physical condition would support that stance. The striker is returning after five months out, his first serious injury at Rangers, and he is nowhere near the fitness level required to compete in UEFA’s flagship competition.
Rangers are down to NINE men at Easter Road after Alfredo Morelos is sent off for this incident 🟥
It was only three weeks ago Van Bronckhorst commented that Morelos was close to agreeing to a new contract - and that he was getting ‘sharper and sharper and working very hard.’ There has been a radical switch in the manager’s thinking, and the Colombian’s future is once again uncertain.
Morelos may still be irked at missing out on the closing stages of the Europa League or annoyed at his lack of minutes in recent weeks. He may even be frustrated at the painstakingly slow progress in contract negotiations, but regardless, he is an experienced professional and should be setting an example.
Rangers are in Eindhoven without their talisman. Morelos is a fan-favourite, a lovable rogue, yet he is beginning to test the patience of the Ibrox faithful. He was always likely to start on the bench, but he could have influenced proceedings in the latter stages.
The result in the Netherlands will determine how easy it will be for the Colombian to reintegrate with his teammates and salvage his Rangers career. If he heeds his latest - and likely final - warning, then his time in Glasgow may not expire just yet, primarily due to him being the outstanding forward at the club.
Rangers contested the Europa League final with Joe Aribo operating as an auxiliary forward due to injuries - and Antonio Colak is the only real striking option for PSV.
A lack of choice in a vital area is again hampering the Light Blues. The Morelos situation was unforeseen, yet further attacking reinforcements were required this summer. Van Bronckhorst will work with the limited options available, but early indications - from a small sample - suggest Colak, a quality marksman, is not ideally suited to the lone striker role away from home.
Without a goal in their last three European away games, Rangers could do with having the club’s top European goalscorer available for selection. Morelos has dreamed of competing in the Champions League proper, but he will be viewing from home as his teammates attempt to take another seismic step forward without him.
Perhaps the Colombian’s selfish antics will galvanise his colleagues and spur them on to a famous victory, but a difficult task in Eindhoven just became even tougher.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
