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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker & Ben Banks

Antonio Colak's ruthless Rangers start earns Croatia reprieve as in-form striker set for international recall

Antonio Colak has received a major boost ahead of his introduction to the Old Firm derby for Rangers against Celtic on Saturday - as Croatia are set to call upon him when they name their international squad for September.

The 28-year-old striker has set the heather alight since his £1.8 million move from PAOK this summer and has scored an outstanding seven goals in nine games, one of which included a goal against PSV Eindhoven over in Holland to send Rangers into the Champions League. His goal in a 3-0 success over Union Saint-Gilloise also put them on the road to the elite European group stage.

Alfredo Morelos has been replaced as Rangers' main striker amid attitude and fitness concerns around the Colombian and it'd be a major shock to see anyone but Colak leading the line away at Celtic. He has been capped three times by Croatia against Turkey, Slovakia and Slovenia, but it was July last year that he was last called upon by his country and has been out of Croatia's last ten matches.

His start to life in Glasgow has impressed manager Zlatko Dalic and he's indicated to Croatian media that the number nine will be in his squad for a Nations League double-header against Denmark in Zagreb and Austria in Vienna

That will be announced on Monday and would be another milestone in what has been a promising start to life at Rangers for the former Malmo star.

He will likely come in for Osasuna's Ante Budimir, who has been dropped by the La Liga side and it would win him his fourth cap, with Ibrox colleague Borna Barisic and Celtic defender Josip Juranovic also likely to be picked.

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