OPINION
There can be little argument that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is in with a shout of being named the best centre forward in Scotland today – but he has his problems which could cost him and his side success in the future.
The Colombian is a machine in front of goal, netting 20 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions, somehow finding a way to stick the ball in the back of the net even when he has a bad day out on the pitch.
His consistency at netting for the Gers is one of the main reasons that Steven Gerrard and his men are firmly in the Premiership title race, but one key area where he does lack balance is his disciplinary record.
With 11 yellow cards and three reds in both the league and cups, he has found himself on the wrong side of the officials this season and while he has been forced to miss out in the first team, it has not put his long term place in the starting XI under threat.
That is primarily because Gerrard needs his goals, regardless of how much a liability he might be, with Kyle Lafferty failing to find the sort of form which would put Morelos under any pressure.
However, the arrival of Jermaine Defoe, one of the finest goal scorers the Premier League has ever seen, at Ibrox means that the Colombian’s position is not so certain any more – especially when their rivals are threatening underhand tactics.
With a clash against Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening, Stephen O’Donnell has warned that his side are likely to try and wind the Rangers man up, telling the Scotsman: “”Morelos has obviously been under scrutiny with the stuff in the Celtic game. You see some of the stuff that happens and there are always wee niggly bits in games.
“He seems to be involved in more of them than most but he also scores more goals than most. I’m sure our centre-backs will maybe try to provoke him.”
The Killie tactics are clear as day – initiate a reaction out of Morelos – and so the striker has to keep his cool or face being out of the Light Blues side for longer than just his suspension.