Morelos may well be needed against Malmo
After last season’s unbeaten Premiership campaign, Rangers now have their first chance in a decade to put the icing on the cake by getting into the Champions League group stage.
They travel to Sweden to face Malmo on Tuesday night, and the prestige of being involved in club football’s premier competition is special for all managers, players and supporters.
There is also the financial boost to take into account, and qualification could earn Rangers in the region of £35-million.
That’s a staggering amount of money for any Scottish club.
But there is plenty of hard work required before they can’t even contemplate bringing in that sort of cash.
Malmo are a very good side. They are well-coached and possess some really good players.
They are solid at the back, creative in midfield and lethal in and around the penalty-box. So there is no doubt that Steven Gerrard and his players will need to produce something very special over the two legs to get through to the final play-off.
I’m sure their enthusiasm and appetite to succeed will be there for all to see.
For the Malmo ties, they will have to do it without the suspended Kemar Roofe.
Alfredo Morelos will also be unavailable this midweek as he is only just back from Colombia and in quarantine.
Steven will want to have Alfredo ready in some shape or form for the return at Ibrox. The Colombian knows the way to goal, and his qualities may well be required to see off the Swedes.
In an ideal world, he would have been back in Glasgow and in training at least one week ago.
However, the form of Fashion Sakala has been a bonus. The 24-year-old Zambian appears to have the hit ground running, and his goal in the 2-1 win against Real Madrid last Sunday would have done him the world of good.
Strikers are needed to win European ties, and Steven will want to have as many as possible ready and raring to go.
Rangers are one of five Scottish sides involved in European games this midweek, and I wish them all well.