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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Ally McCoist weighs in on Rangers Champions League stick or twist as Colak and Morelos Liverpool double act rubbished

Ally McCoist has admitted he would be gutted if he was in Antionio Colak 's shoes and wasn't playing every game for Rangers.

The frontman has been in fine form since arriving at Ibrox and has fired his way to the top of the Scottish Premiership scoring charts with his double in the 4-0 win over St Mirren on Saturday, but Alfredo Morelos appears to be the preferred option for Gio van Bronckhorst on Champions League nights. The Colombian was handed a start ahead of in-form Colak during the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, but the Croat caused problems for the English Premier League giants at Anfield when he came off the bench.

Ibrox icon McCoist admits Light Blues boss Van Bronckhorst faces a tough call for the Battle of Britain rematch in Govan, but reckons Colak's surging confidence could be the deciding factor in keeping Rangers Champions League hopes alive. Speaking at the launch of William Hill’s newly transformed, state-of-the-art shop on Gordon Street, Glasgow McCoist said: “Is it Morelos or Colak? It’s a really tough decision. They bring different things to the party.

“The front three were non-existent at Anfield against a team who were pressing high and they never got much of the ball. In the home games I think Morelos will give you more in terms of free-kicks and up the park.

“However, Colak is firing and if you get it into the box he will score. He scored a brilliant header at Tynecastle and if you put it into the box he will get on the end of things.

“If you are asking me who I would start, at this time it is a flip of the guy, I couldn’t split them. I would want to see them in training as I think they are both great strikers.

“Colak’s goal return is ridiculous, it’s six goals in three league games. If you look at Morelos over the distance, especially in Europe, that’s the decision Van Bronckhorst has to make.

“I have no doubts he will decide who to start after seeing them in training. They need to score a goal as I don’t know if they can keep Liverpool out for the 90 minutes so they will need a goal.

“The confidence Colak has might give him the edge. He came on and he was unlucky not to score at Anfield. That might prey in Gio’s mind.

“The flip side is the chance comes late on when Rangers have had their best period and Liverpool have maybe taken their foot off the gas. He has to weigh all that up.

"Colak is firing and his confidence will be sky high and he will be bursting to play against Liverpool. Colak makes a brilliant run for the second goal at Tynecastle, but from what I have seen, he looks to be someone who likes crosses into the box. Put deliveries in and he thrives on that.

“I think they could play together but I don’t think there’s any danger it will be on Wednesday. We don’t see two strikers a lot these days which I don’t think is a good thing and you should have horses for courses.”

When pushed on how he would feel if he was enjoying form like Colak and dropped for a blockbuster Champions League game, he said: "I would be gutted if I wasn’t picked, absolutely. Mind you, if I was Morelos and wasn’t picked I would be gutted!

"I would just be gutted if I wasn’t picked, full stop. But if you are on that kind of run, I can understand it. He would be extremely disappointed."

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