Morelos will keep cool head in hot atmosphere: Gerrard

STEVEN Gerrard has backed Alfredo Morelos to keep his cool on his return to Celtic Park tomorrow.

Gers’ 28-goal hitman was sent off five times last season, with his final dismissal coming at Parkhead after he aimed an elbow at Hoops skipper Scott Brown back in March.

This term, the Colombian has largely managed to stay out of trouble.

His only red card so far came at Fir Park two weeks ago for an inflammatory gesture aimed at the Motherwell support.

But his manager saw signs during the Light Blues’ Boxing Day win over Kilmarnock — in which Morelos climbed off the bench to score the winner — to show the striker has learned his lesson ahead of the crucial clash with Neil Lennon’s Ladbrokes Premiership leaders.

Gerrard said: “I have got no doubt Alfredo will be ready to face this challenge. He’s in the best place he can be. His behaviour has massively improved.

“When he came on again yesterday there were people trying to provoke him and he just rolled on with it. He was brilliant.

“It’s going to be hostile at Celtic Park, so it’s important for all the players to keep their discipline. Emotions run high all the time in derby matches.

“Let’s hope we’re talking about football rather than people losing their cool and sending offs.”

Morelos suffered fresh derby agony earlier this month when he blew a string of chances — including a second-half penalty — as Rangers failed to convert Betfred Cup final domination into silverware.

However, there has been no sign of a Hampden hangover, with the 23-year-old netting in each of the three games he has featured in since.

And Gerrard hopes he is ready to finally break his 11-game drought against Celtic.

He said: “I thought Alfredo’s all-round performance was really good in the final. He created a lot of the chances for himself out of nothing.