STEVEN GERRARD hopes Alfredo Morelos can use his suspension frustration as motivation when he returns to action at Ibrox tonight.
The striker has missed Rangers’ last two matches with Kilmarnock and St Johnstone after picking up a three-game ban for an incident involving Scott McKenna in the win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Morelos is free to feature in the Scottish Cup replay with Steve Clarke’s side before sitting out the must-win Premiership clash with Hamilton Accies at the weekend.
Rangers have been shot-shy in the final third without their 23-goal striker and Gerrard is pleased to have his main forward back in contention as Scott Arfield also looks to return to action.
He said: “I think that this question on the back of St Johnstone, the answer’s always going to be yes, of course. After a nil-nil, and a nil-nil at Kilmarnock in the first leg as well.
“I think we’ve lacked players stepping up and providing big moments and bits of magic at the right time in Alfredo’s absence, in Scott’s absence. Of course the answer to your question right now would be yes But it’s my job to make sure we’re not over-reliant on him going forward and that’s what I’ll do.”
The loss of Morelos has proven costly on more than one occasion this term as Rangers have struggled without arguably their most important player and main goal threat.
The Light Blues were unsuccessful in their attempts to overturn his latest red card - the fourth he has been given this season- on appeal as the Scottish FA rejected their case at a Hampden hearing this month.
But now the Colombian has a chance to prove his worth once again as Killie visit on cup duty.
Gerrard said: “I think initially he would have been [feeling frustrated at missing playing games].
“He doesn’t like missing training sessions never mind games, he’s that type of player. You’ve got to drag him in off the training pitch on a regular basis. He’s young, he’s enthusiastic, he loves playing.
“I think the learning curve for Alfredo is to try and not put himself in this position moving forward but keeping his edge, his fighting spirit, his mentality because I think the team lack that when he’s not there.
“We lacked it at Dundee away; we certainly lacked it at the weekend. Just two very hurtful performances for the team in terms of where we sit in the league. He’ll be a welcome boost, it’s nice to have him back and hopefully he can put in a performance that can help the team get the outcome that we want.”
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