Stuart McCall has warned Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos not to let their Rangers careers die of shame. The former darlings of the Ibrox support have been miles off it in recent months. They’ve suffered sorry form slumps in the final season of their contracts. Their individual performances did little to help Giovanni van Bronckhorst stay in a job.
Kent and Morelos could be all set to leave on a major low as Gers trail Celtic and undergo another mid-season change of manager. McCall reckons allowing two top talents, worth millions a couple of seasons ago, leave for free is a setback. But he’s less worried about the Ibrox financial affairs and more fearful of damage done to a title comeback by the duo’s displays.
He added: “The contract situation probably does worry me a bit. But I’m more concerned by the form here and now. We could do with them finding their real form when the season restarts - the Alfredo of 12-18 months ago; the Kent of last season and year before. So, as a player, what do you want to do? Get that old form back - or just let your time at Rangers to fritter away?
“No, you should have desire and inner strength in your own mind. They’ll have great memories of winning a championship as an unbeaten team and getting to the Europa League Final. They should rightly be proud of that. But they surely should say: I want to get back to that, to get punters singing my name again, getting medals and picking up trophies.
“They were hailed as heroes not that long ago. While they’re still at the club, they’ve got a chance to make more good memories. And if it’s your last season, then go out on a high. Get that title back, go and show what a good player you are.”
Nine In A Row icon McCall insists Connor Goldson is the role model for performance in a contract year. The defensive star’s displays didn’t miss a beat in 2021/22 - despite his deal running all the way down. McCall added: “For whatever reason, the performance levels of Kent and Morelos have been nowhere near standard.
“I said last season Kent was the team’s most important player. He could do something different when it’s tight and teams sat in. He had a really good amount of individuality that could turn a game on its head and win it. At the minute, he looks a shadow of himself. Morelos, whether it’s fitness levels or whatever, has only memories of great times.
“But Goldson is a fine example of someone whose contract was running down - yet still kept his levels high. Listen, if they’re going to depart at the end of the season - or whenever that might be - that’s something you accept. If you’re playing well and going to another top club, fair enough. But if you have a fantastic season and the tide turns and you get the title back, who says you don’t do what Connor did?
“Everyone was surprised Rangers managed to keep him because all the signs were that he’d move. He enjoyed his time so much. And, if you’re going to leave, you’ll struggle to find a better club than Rangers.”
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