Michael Beale urged Alfredo Morelos to make the most of his last chance to put himself in the shop window before the shutter slams on his Rangers career.
The Ibrox boss has confirmed he’s ready to pitch the out-of-contract Colombian back in against Celtic despite last week’s public dressing down. The frustrated Londoner hit out at the striker following his disinterested substitute display against Aberdeen but Beale insists there’s been no fall-out.
And he hopes the need to convince potential suitors he’s worthy a move elsewhere will inspire the 26-year-old to roll back the years as he suits up for his final Old Firm showdown. Beale said: “I think he will want to. When he plays, he plays with passion and he tries and runs well in training, stuff like that. Maybe last week he was a bit disappointed he didn’t start and he came on, and that happens at times.
“You’re dealing with young men with a lot of emotions. But there is no issue. Wherever he is going, he will want to go there in fine form and in a good place. If he hasn’t sorted out what he’s going to do yet, then this is an opportunity.”
Record Sport columnist and former Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson has led calls for Beale to show Morelos and fellow contract rebel Ryan Kent the door before the season ends. Kent will be missing on derby day due to injury but with Fashion Sakala his only other fit centre-forward, Beale insisted Morelos will have part to play.
“He’ll definitely be involved in the squad,” he said. “There’s no issue with me and Alfredo, we’ve been on the same page for quite a while.
“We’ve had a long relationship spanning four, four-and-a-half years. There’s no issues whatsoever. When he plays well he gets praise. It’s important that I’m honest in my feedback to him. It’s nothing more than that. Last week he came on in the game and wasn’t his usual self. He was frustrated as well as everybody else.”
Beale was also quizzed on this week’s transfer rumours. Record Sport understands a deal for Chelsea defender Dujon Sterling is close while the names of Arsenal kid Auston Trusty and Honduran hitman Luis Palma have been added to a wish list already containing those of Jack Butland and Kieran Dowell.
But Beale was yesterday keeping tight-lipped, saying: “There’s a lot of speculation and names, lots of good players which is nice that they’re being linked with us but until anything’s concrete we don’t want to talk about any individual players. Out of respect for their clubs and the players as well.”
Ben Davies has also been ruled out to todays Celtic showdown through injury but Ryan Jack will return from a couple of weeks out. And Beale is set to hand third-choice stopper Robby McCrorie another chance to impress ahead of the new campaign after last week’s Dons shut-out.
And he hopes the influence of veteran stopper Allan McGregor will help his young understudy survive what will be just his second derby date. “Robby will play, I have a lot of faith in him,” said Beale. “He was missing with injury a lot of my time here and now he can showcase what he has. He was excellent last week.
“He is 24 or 25 now and has been around Allan for a long long time. Allan has always been a good mentor to him in terms of words and also actions out there every day.
“Last week we gave Allan a little rest from the squad. We thought it was nice to give him that breather, but he will be back in the squad tomorrow.’
Meanwhile, Beale has ruled out any possibility of his team laying on a guard of honour for Celtic’s newly crowned Premiership kings, saying: “In the past it’s been turned down. I don’t think they would want us to and in the stadium in front of our fans, I don’t think it would be the right thing to do either.
“We have a lot of respect for them, they’ve clearly been the best team in the league, but it’s been dealt with in the past and that takes it out of my hands thankfully.”
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