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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Michael Beale reveals Rangers guard of of honour snub to Celtic and insists ‘it would not be the right thing to do’

Michael Beale revealed Rangers won't be giving Celtic a guard of honour this weekend - while confirming Alfredo Morelos WILL play a part in the final derby of the season.

The Rangers boss is looking ahead to Saturday's derby with Celtic where he looks for his first Old Firm win in his fifth attempt. The Englishman has improved things at Ibrox but has come under flak for his inability to bridge the gap to Ange Postecoglou's team who have been rampant at the top of the league and stand a Scottish Cup Final away from a Treble.

The Hoops are on course for a record-breaking season and can finish the campaign with the most points in top flight history if they win their remaining four games. But Beale feels an organised guard of honour wouldn't be "the right thing to do."

Rangers manager Michael Beale (PA)

He told Sky Sports News: "In the past it's been turned down and that has to be done 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."

Playmaker Todd Cantwell isn't taking much to do with the situation, but added: "I just do what I am told on a matchday. I think with the rivalry, I can’t imagine them doing that for us."

Beale, who also confirmed Robby McCrorie will start between the sticks, says Morelos will have a part to play despite his scathing assessment of the striker's performance against Aberdeen last week. The Colombian is set to leave when his contract expires but is set to get one last crack at the Parkhead side on Saturday afternoon.

On Morelos he said: "He'll definitely be involved in the squad. 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."

Morelos will feature but Ryan Kent won't as he continues his recovery from injury. Ryan Jack is back in the team but Beale confirmed Ben Davies will miss out due to a knock.

He added: "Ben (Davies) misses out. Ryan (Kent) has not returned to training as still has an issue. Jack comes back in which is great."

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