Alan Hutton has suggested that Alfredo Morelos’ behaviour has improved because he will get fined if he acts out.
The Rangers striker developed a reputation for disciplinary issues last term, but has picked up just two yellow cards this season, and none in the Scottish Premiership.
And Hutton thinks he knows why he has cleaned up his act.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I’ve heard they’ve got a fine thing in place so I think that, I’m hoping, keeps him on the straight and narrow. I think we were all there once.
“I used to get labelled with the red mist and stuff when I was a young kid – it was just enthusiasm, wanting to do well and maybe kind of getting caught up in certain situations where you learn through time and experiences that you have to maybe, right, settle down a little bit.
“I think he’s showed that this year.”
How important was it that Morelos settle down?
Not to be hyperbolic, but it was vital.
At the end of the day, when he is on song, there is no better striker in Scotland than the 23-year-old. 11 goals in 13 games so far this season is a pretty strong piece of evidence to support that argument.
That being said he was no use to anybody watching from the stands, and so it was vital that he straightened himself out so that he could make a consistent and sustained impact for Steven Gerrard’s men.
Morelos missed 10 matches last season through suspension, as per Transfermarkt, and while that may not sound like the most ridiculous, just look at what he has achieved in roughly the same period of time already this term.
In fact, the only downside you could potentially see to this newfound calmness is that it could attract more suitors for the Colombian.
Morelos has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Ibrox in recent times, as per the Daily Record, but you can’t help feeling that his atrocious disciplinary record was putting off some potential buyers.
If he truly has turned a corner in that respect, and only time will tell if he has, then it could end up being a double-edged sword for the Gers in the long run.