BUF AT THE TOP
Kev: Morelos has now shown he’s a big-game hunter... and Hoops are in his sights again
ALFREDO MORELOS has always been one of Rangers’ prize assets but this season he has become a big-game hunter and will have Celtic in his sights again.
So says former Ibrox star Kevin Drinkell who watched him finally break his derby hoodoo last month and feels now the dam is burst, the goals could soon flow against their city rivals.
El Bufalo finally broke his duck against the Hoops last time out after scoring big Europa League goals against Lech Poznan, Benfica as well as Royal Antwerp.
The Colombian has shouldered the main goalscoring burden for Rangers since he arrived from HJK Helsinki in 2017 but question marks always hovered over whether he could do it when the pressure was on in games where it really mattered.
This season he may not have netted as freely as he has done in previous seasons but Morelos is still on 14 for the campaign. And a lot of the goals have been important ones in terms of Steven Gerrard’s side winning the title while making their mark in Europe once again.
The Scottish Cup stage is now set for Sunday in the last 16 and Drinkell, who netted in Old Firm derbies, said: “You could see what the goal meant for Morelos in that last Old Firm game.
“It was massive for him to score that first goal against Celtic.
“It had been something like 14 games without a goal and it was always a major topic of conversation going into the Old Firm game.
“The last game, though, there wasn’t as much talk about it because Rangers had already won the league. Morelos probably went a bit under the radar. Nobody was talking about him scoring and that turned out to be the game where he finally got his goal.
“That has been the big thing for Morelos this year.
“He might not score as many goals domestically but he’s come to the fore in the big games in Europe and now against Celtic.
“He has definitely shone in Europe, showing his quality and class.
“He has delivered when it has mattered and that’s what all the top strikers do. I’m sure Morelos will be looking to keep that going again on Sunday.”
The 24-year-old has made no secret of his desire to win a move to one of Europe’s top leagues.
The frontman was unhappy last
He might not score as many this year but he’s come to the fore in Europe and now against Celts
KEVIN DRINKELL
summer to see a move to French side Lille dropped.
Gerrard continued to keep faith in him as he played his way back into form. All the while, the arrival of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten meant Morelos had competition and was no longer undroppable for the Light Blues.
Drinkell said: “If Morelos had his doubters, then he seems to have settled down.
“His discipline has been vastly improved and the feeling you get from his team-mates and his manager is they have always been supportive of him.
“Morelos is now repaying that with his performances and goals for the team.”
Rangers go into this weekend’s Old Firm clash looking to chase down the Double.
For Celtic, it is their last shot at silverware and for the chance to salvage some pride under interim boss John Kennedy. Drinkell said: “You have to say the pressure is off Celtic a bit because the league has gone and the manager has gone. But they will still be under pressure from their fans to get a result.
“The concern for Rangers is that the Celtic dressing room will be fired to come out and show they are not finished as a team or a group.
“They will be coming out with a point to prove, both individually and collectively.
“I would expect them to have a real shot at it to dampen all the Rangers’ celebrations.”
However, Rangers have made it clear that they want the Scottish Cup to go along with the league trophy they won more than a month ago, having remained unbeaten with four Premiership games to go. Drinkell added: “At the same time, Rangers will want to complete the Double, so it does make for an interesting game. “Gerrard made it clear after they went out of the Europa League that the Scottish Cup was the main focus and they will be going all guns blazing for that. “If Rangers were to win the Double, then it would be a great season adding a cup to that 55th title. And that is what every Rangers fans will be hoping to see at Hampden come the end of the season.”