Manager warns Morelos to keep calm

Pedro Caixinha has warned frontman Alfredo Morelos to keep a lid on his emotions during tomorrow’s Old Firm game – because he fears Celtic will set out to “provoke” him.

The Colombian has been Rangers’ most impressive performer this term with eight goals since his summer switch from HJK Helsinki.

But there have been signs that the 21-year-old can be easily riled – he was lucky not to face punishment after appearing to kick out at Partick Thistle defender Jordan Turnbull during Friday night’s 2-2 draw.

Rangers manager Caixinha said: “He’s young, he’s gifted and he’s scoring goals. He’s enjoying playing games but he needs to control his emotional side. I need to send an alert and that alert is that I know he is going to be provoked.

“My concern and my job is making him calm and not responding to that. But he’s a guy that when things are growing and the environment is getting hot, he’s not stepping back and he faces the challenge.

“He just needs to understand how to face the challenge, because he is going to be challenged. I want him to have his temperament. If I take his temperament out then he’s losing his identity. He just needs to know how to control it.”

Caixinha admitted if he was the Celtic manager, he would ensure his side did all they could to spark a reaction from Morelos. “If I was in that position I would say: ‘So if this guy is having a sort of challenge, something might happen if you do something extra’. It’s going to happen.”