ALFREDO’S ADDED LITTLE
Andy Little reckons Rangers are reaping the benef its now Alfredo Morelos has f inally come of age.
The Colombian striker looked set for the Ibrox exit door after a summer of speculation and a poor start to the season.
But he has roared back to his best and cemented himself as a key part of Steven Gerrard’s red-hot Rangers side.
Little, who bagged 33 goals during a six-year spell in Govan, believes Morelos is nearing his best. He said: “There has been a real maturity about Alfredo’s play this season and he seems to understand what the team needs from him.
“Disciplinary wise, he has tightened up and is doing more work outside the box than he has ever done. He has a job to do in putting the ball in the back of the net but he has developed as a player and added more to his game.
“His goal numbers are down a bit but he consistently gives defenders a torrid time.
“Look at the Benfica match where he was up against Otamendi and Vertonghen.
“They have something like 200 international caps between them and Alfredo bullied them
on their own patch. I didn’t want to see Morelos go at the start of the season and I definitely don’t want to see him go now because he’s just coming into top form.
“He’s had that little barren spell which every striker goes through. Steven Gerrard has said himself that he doesn’t know why Alfredo isn’t scoring as much this season.
“Do I think Rangers would be fine if he left? Possibly but I would much rather see him stick around as they chase the league title.”
Having burst on to the scene at Ibrox in 2012 with a goal against Celtic, Little is aware of the pressure Morelos is under.
He insists Steven Gerrard is the man to thank for getting the star striker back on track.
Lit t le said: “The most impressive thing is how the management have dealt with him because there’s no doubt his head was turned in the summer. He was being linked with massive clubs so it’s only natural.
“Steven Gerrard and some of the senior players have rallied round him and got his head back on Rangers.
“At the start of the season he wasn’t fit and he didn’t look anywhere near as focused as he was last season. It’s difficult for a manager to get a player like that back onside.
“Credit goes to Alfredo too for getting back to playing with the right mentality but the management have played a big part there. There are a lot more players taking responsibility to put the ball in the net and that’s something Steven Gerrard was crying out for.
“You can’t just rely on Alfredo to score all your goals. But if Rangers keep playing as they are and Morelos gets into the box, he will score sitters all season long.”
Little retired in 2018 through injury but now works as a pundit for Rangers TV.
He said: “I work full-time in property now and that keeps me busy.
“I also do my media work with Rangers TV, which I love.”