Morelos is fit and ready for visit of Killie

ALFREDO MORELOs will hand Rangers a huge boost by returning to the squad for today’s Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox. The Colombian international has been missing through injury since a 2-1 win over Dundee in March and is likely to start on the bench, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopeful of giving his strike talisman some game time ahead of a Champions League salvage mission against Union saint-Gilloise. A huge miss during the title climax and the run to the Europa League final in seville, the forward’s return could hardly be better timed. Trailing the Belgian league runners-up 2-0 after the first leg, Rangers need firepower for the second game on Tuesday. With 11 goals against Kilmarnock in total — his highest tally against any scottish club — Morelos (below) has an opportunity to stake his claim for a starting place against Union. ‘The biggest change will be that Alfredo will be in the squad,’ Van Bronckhorst told Rangers TV. ‘He has been training really hard the last weeks with the team and we think he is ready to be in the squad for tomorrow. Hopefully he can play some minutes as well.’ Dismayed by his team’s lacklustre performance in Belgium, the Dutchman hopes to witness a reaction when Rangers play their first home league game of the season against newly-promoted Killie. Reflecting on the European match, he admitted: ‘The first emotion I had was one of disappointment. When we analysed the game back with the players, we all felt the same. ‘We were disappointed in the performance — and the desire and the hunger to turn it around starts against Kilmarnock. ‘It’s a team which has come from the Championship with a coach who likes to play good football. ‘Derek McInnes is doing a lovely job at Kilmarnock. I know him personally, I played alongside him and it’s always nice to see your ex-team-mates getting into management as well. ‘You always see a little bit of the style of player in the manager and the teams he coaches. ‘He took Kilmarnock from the Championship back to the Premiership. ‘It was a great year for him and, of course they started the league season reasonably well against Dundee United, so it will be good to see him back. ‘Kilmarnock is a team which can make it really difficult, like all the teams in scotland can. ‘I am confident when we reach our levels and the standard I expect from my players, then we should be fine.’ Before travelling to Belgium, Rangers battled back to beat Livingston in their opening league game of the season last saturday. Rangers defender John souttar played at the Tony Macaroni stadium despite grieving the loss of his 42-year-old brother Aaron after a long fight with Motor Neurone Disease. In an emotional post on social media yesterday, souttar described his sibling as ‘my brother, my hero, my best mate’. His sister Ailsa shand confirmed that Aaron died on July 17, urging wellwishers and mourners to donate to the ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ and MND scotland. souttar failed to make the trip to Belgium, but could be back in the running for the game against Kilmarnock as Rangers look for a morale-boosting three points. ‘We have prepared the players well for this game,’ added Van Bronckhorst. ‘We need to improve what we didn’t do well on Tuesday. We need to improve against Kilmarnock with our positions, speed of play, with our movements, runs and creating chances. ‘Every game at home is exciting. Whether it’s a friendly, Europe or cup games. ‘Of course the league games as well, and we switch now from the European campaign to the domestic league. ‘We started the league well with a win last week against Livingston and we want to continue to get the three points every game we play. ‘We have to make it a positive game, win three points and get a positive feeling towards

Tuesday.’