MORELOS LANDS TWO-GAME BAN FOR VIOLENT CONDUCT

Alfredo Morelos will miss the next two games after Rangers accepted a violent conduct charge. Scottish Football Association compliance officer Clare Whyte decided a booking was not punishment enough for the Rangers striker after his clash with Mark Connolly.

The Colombian, pictured above, was given a yellow card by referee Steven Mclean after planting his forearm into the face of the Dundee United defender during Sunday's 2-1 win at Tannadice. But, under the SFA'S disciplinary rules, Whyte had the power to take further action so long as the incident was ruled to be "exceptional in nature".

Rangers quickly admitted the charge, according to the SFA website, meaning there will be no Hampden hearing and Morelos will miss tonight's Betfred Cup clash with St Mirren and the visit of Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Speaking after his side's win on Sunday, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard shot down claims Morelos - who has been sent off seven times since moving to Ibrox in 2017 - had elbowed Connolly. "I didn't see an elbow," he insisted. "If you look at him again, there's no elbow there. The referee saw it and dealt with it.

"It was a foul and a yellow card and it's been dealt with. But if you look at it again, next time I see you, you'll say it wasn't an elbow."

Ryan Jack is also set to again be absent for the quarter-final with St Mirren.

It is almost a month since the midfielder last played despite Gerrard initially declaring his knee injury would only keep him out for a few days.

Gerrard said: "It's moving along but a lot slower than we'd like.”