‘Alf singled out because he’s best in league’

STEVEN GERRARD insists Alfredo Morelos should take the attention he receives from outside of Ibrox as a compliment after proving he is the best striker in Scotland this season.

The Colombian has enjoyed a terrific first half of the campaign under the guidance of Gerrard and has hit 20 goals already this term as Rangers have manoeuvred themselves into title contention in the Premiership.

Morelos has become the player that fans love to hate when they face Rangers and he has often been targeted by rivals as they attempt to provoke a reaction and stifle his attacking threat.

The forward found himself at the eye of the storm once again in the aftermath of the Old Firm win over Celtic as three incidents involving Scott Brown, Ryan Christie and Anthony Ralston were repeatedly highlighted.

But boss Gerrard (below) has no fear that the undue attention Morelos receives will have a negative impact on the 22-year-old.

Gerrard said: “Everyone singles out Alfredo – he’s a target for everyone. But we see it as a compliment because he’s a terrific player.

“In the first half of the season he scored 20 goals. He’s been the best striker in the league by a country mile so he should see his treatment as a compliment – I would if I was him.

“I can assure everyone that we are working with Alfredo and he’s certainly doing his best to try and improve his discipline on the pitch.

“He is very young, he is a target. He gets kicked from pillar to post in the majority of games and teams set out to try and stop him. But we get on with it, he gets on with it. He handles it in the main very well.”