Graeme Murty: Rangers can provide perfect platform for Alredo Morelos to shoot his way to the World Cup

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While Colombia’s wily former Argentina coach Jose Pekermann can also call upon the talents of the likes of Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Carlos Bacca for the global showpiece in Russia this summer, Morelos is well placed to be introduced for a couple of European-based friendlies next month against France in Paris then Australia at Craven Cottage in London.

“We haven’t had any contact from Colombia yet, but all Alfredo can do is continue to be outstanding,” said the Rangers manager, who is also quietly hopeful the striker will follow James Tavernier in extending his contract at Ibrox, amid recent interest in the player from Beijing Renhe. “If he’s the top scorer in this league, then I have no doubt they will be looking at him.

“I can’t offer him any more of a carrot [to stay], all I can show him is the opportunity,” added Murty of a player, who was joined from Colombia by his mother and father recently. “We need to put him in front of the guys that are going to make that decision. But HE has to make them aware of him, make them sit up and take notice and how do you do that? HE has to score loads and loads and loads of goals.”

Unsurprisingly, considering he is only 21 years of age, Morelos remains a work in progress. While he uses his bulk and pace well for the Scottish game, his goalscoring statistics would and should be even greater considering the number of glaring opportunities which he has spurned. “There are areas Alfredo needs to improve, areas where he can get better,” said Murty. “We can look at his clinical nature, how many chances does he need to score a goal? We can definitely get that number down, we can definitely make him sharper and brighter, but I think having that international ambition is a good way to light a fire for a young man like Alfredo where goals are his main thing.

“He can realise, you know what, I can do these things while being here at a massive stage,” he added. “Every other game we are on TV and we have to utilise that as a positive. He will have the opportunity to be successful here but he has to make sure he prepares properly, he lives properly, he works properly at his game and is diligent. International recognition could move his career to another level.”

Explicitly on those contract negotiations, James Tavernier – skipper for the day at Somerset Park at the weekend – signed a bumper new deal earlier in the week and Murty is sure he won’t be the last. “People who are doing well will always be considered for extensions or upgrades on contracts,” said Murty. “If he [Morelos] is doing well, if Josh [Windass] is doing well, if Declan [John] is doing well, if Wes [Foderingham] is doing well, we will be looking at all of the squad and making sure those guys are recompensed and they are understanding of our desire to grow something and build something. As much as monetary terms, it is about selling a vision and showing them where we are going to be. It is not where we are hoping to be, it is what we are planning and building towards being. Do you want to be a part of it? You put that in front of them and then talk about anything else that is in their mind. Those negotiations and conversations are going on all the time.”

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Tavernier is the case in point, a full back previously exposed by Mark Warburton’s penchant for playing high, wide wingers and telling them to stay up rather than track back, who his manager now feels is the best right back in the Scottish game. The likes of Mikael Lustig and Shay Logan might argue the point but, as witnessed in the recent goalless draw against Celtic at Parkhead, the 26-year-old is quite something when he hits full flow. Asked if he was an early contender for Scottish player of the year, Murty - a full back himself in his playing days - hedges his bets a little but his admiration is clear. “I’m possibly his biggest critic so that’s for someone else to look at,” said Murty. “But I would certainly suggest he’s been one of our more consistent performers in the league and I think the amount of goals he has scored from his position is outstanding. I would say he is the outstanding player in his position in the country and we are delighted to tie him down.”

Like Morelos, Murty feels there is more to come from his full back, not least the growth in the player’s leadership qualities which he nodded towards by giving him the captain’s armband in the absence of Jason Holt on Sunday. “It was to give him the level of responsibility to show it’s not just about him, but there’s a wider picture to be worked towards,” said Murty. “James, as a defender, has a responsibility to make sure we have a clean sheet to work from. He sometimes has to consider that more often because he has really strong attacking instincts and he may need to temper them for the good of the team. It was just a simple way of making him more aware of being a team player.”