Davie Provan reckons that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is an accident waiting to happen following his recent ban for a challenge in mid week.
The 23-year-old hit out at Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna and has since received a punishment for the incident, but Provan says that Morelos must be on the pitch playing if the Gers have any chance in the slightest of snatching the title away from Celtic this season.
He adds that Morelos is as important to Rangers as Eric Cantona was to Manchester United, however, he believes that the Colombian should get himself a switch this summer – as the club needs him more than he needs them.
“Any slim chance Rangers have of winning the title rests with Morelos. [Steven] Gerrard is now a hostage of the striker’s temperament. But even with Jermain Defoe available, the Colombian has to play if Gers are to contest this title,” he said in his Scottish Sun column.
“But on a night when defeat would have blown Rangers’ league campaign he let his team-mates down again. Morelos turns 23 this summer, an age at which his manager should be able to trust him. Instead he’s still an accident waiting to happen.
“But as long as Gerrard’s backside is in the bacon slicer, he’ll take his chances with Morelos. Morelos has still to wade into the crowd, but I’d argue he’s as important to Gers as Cantona was to Manchester United. With 23 goals already this season Morelos should get himself a decent move this summer.
“In the meantime Gerrard has no choice but to back Morelos for the rest of the season. He must have felt like tearing the hitman’s head off at times, but he’s been around long enough to know how it works. For all Morelos’ faults, Rangers need him more than he needs them.”
OPINION
Provan is right – any chance that Rangers have on winning the title this year essentially hang on Morelos and his form. Yes, they do have Defoe in the wings – he has already proved that he is a reliable goalscorer – but Morelos is the player that could ultimately define their season. However, that will not happen if he continues to let his temper get the better of him most of the time, something which has happened too many times to count now. It remains to be seen when he will start to keep his emotions in check, but for the sake of his teammates and Gerrard, he needs to start doing that as soon as possible. The title race is not over yet and he is needed for his goals more than ever now, so fingers crossed he realises that sooner rather than later. He is a fantastic forward, but he would be an even better one if he did not let his anger get the better of him. There is no harm in some tempers flaring, but he must draw the line where he could potentially receive a punishment.