Time up for Morelos but Boyd urges Rangers to agree Kent contract
KRIS BOYD has always been an admirer of Alfredo Morelos, but the former Rangers striker has now conceded that the Colombian’s time at Ibrox is over. The front man has been heavily criticised this season for his poor physical condition as well as his lack of application in training and matches.
Previous manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst ultimately had enough as he banished Morelos from training and his match- day squads in August, but he did subsequently return weeks later.
The 26- year- old still looks off the pace now and he has simply failed to reach the heights that have seen him break goal- scoring records for the Ibrox club during his five- andabit- year stint in Glasgow.
Boyd has been openly critical of Morelos in recent weeks with Rangers nine points adrift of their city rivals Celtic in second place in the Scottish Premiership, and he now feels the time has come for the one- time fan favourite to move on to a new challenge.
“There is no doubt for me that his time is up at Rangers,” Boyd said. “In the past few weeks Morelos has played due to a lack of options for Rangers, obviously with Kemar Roofe and Antonio Colak being injured.
“He is not the same player that he was for whatever reason. He might have his eyes on a move elsewhere. But at the same time it seems to be the case in every single transfer window. It has not materialised.
“Looking at it now, the way Michael Beale wants to play, Alfredo Morelos is nowhere near fit enough to trigger that press.
“We are not saying anything here that he hasn’t done in the past. It is not as if you are turning around and saying he is someone who will run 100m in nine or ten seconds.
“Alfredo Morelos has occupied back fours not only in Scotland but in Europe. I have said it before he is a fantastic footballer when he is on it. He is a handful, he can score goals, he has scored over 100 goals for Rangers.
“But at this moment in time you just feel that his time is up. He is not bringing anywhere near what he should be to a Rangers team.”
Ryan Kent is another who has been off the boil for Rangers this term, but the former Liverpool man produced the goods against Celtic on Monday as he supplied a stunning finish to edge his team back into the derby fixture.
There have been glimpses of Kent’s quality throughout the season, but he simply has been nowhere near the levels that Rangers supporters know he is capable of.
Despite this, Boyd feels the Englishman does have a future at Ibrox and he hopes the powers that be can offer a new bumper contract before transfer suitors come calling.
He continued: “With Ryan Kent, Rangers must find a way to keep him at the football club. I totally understand he might want the opportunity to speak to other clubs.
“I think Ryan Kent loves it at
FORMER Rangers, Hearts and Dundee United star Gordan Petric has spoken for the first time about his battle with skin cancer and says he has made a full recovery.
The former Serbian international is now manager of homeland giants Partizan Belgrade, but played in Scotland for an eight- year spell at Ibrox, Tynecastle and Tannadice, as well as having a stint at Crystal Palace.
He retired at just 31 and he has finally explained that he hung up his boots early to battle skin cancer.
Petric said: “At the age of 31, I found out in Scotland that I had melanoma. I underwent interferon therapy.
“The doctors told me that I could keep playing but I felt tired all the time. I knew I had maybe five more years of my career ahead of me and I already had a family.
“I decided to retire and fight my cancer. Of course, I didn’t expect that. It takes time to mentally collect yourself and prepare for what awaits you. I made the decision to stop stressing myself for the sake of my health and my loved ones.
“I had check- ups every six months and since the melanoma hadn’t come back after five years it was over.
“I had offers to get back to football but I wanted a break. I basically rested for five years and walked a lot, got into nature, enjoyed the solitude and listened to the birds. But I needed to get back into football and here I am now at Partizan.”
Petric is far from the only player of his era to suffer from serious illness and he has pondered why that is.
He said: “Why did it happen to me? I can’t explain it. But it was strange, in that period when I played, nine players from Celtic and Rangers fell ill with some kind of cancer.”
Ibrox. He is adored by the fans, there is no doubt he can get back to his best. We have talked about his numbers and there is no doubt he can improve.
“He brings so much more to the team now as well. He is one that I think you really need to get tied down. I think with him he is not throwing in the towel and saying ‘ I am moving on’.
“I get it might be the same as Connor Goldson and you wait until the summer, to see exactly what is happening. There is nothing wrong with Ryan Kent going and exploring what is there because he knows exactly what Rangers can give him.”
Beale will also be looking to add some new faces to his Rangers squad in January and central midfield appears to be a priority, especially given Steven Davis has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Boyd reckons his former club should look to a familiar face in John Fleck as a possible option from Sheffield United, where he is out of favour, having played just 11 games this term.
“The obvious one for me would be John Fleck,” Boyd said on Sky Sports News . “Michael Beale has spoken about that central midfield area. John Fleck has been at Rangers before. He has been brought up in it. He is a totally different player now from the one who left Rangers. People like him would be on my radar.
“I wouldn’t be rushing in and just grabbing players for the sake of it, especially in January. A lot of the time players haven’t been playing for their football clubs.
“It is important Rangers do their recruitment properly because this window and the next one are huge and deals need to be done. If deals are to be done in January I am sure Michael Beale will want to get them done.
“I think the summer is the most important window because there is an overhaul of the squad needed.”