Who should replace Alfredo Morelos as Rangers frontman? Cedric Itten, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala profiled

El Bufalo will miss the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on the 2nd of February as well as the trip to Dingwall to face Ross County on January 29th and he could also be absent for the visit of Livingston next Wednesday.

The Light Blues are already without Joe Aribo who is in Cameroon representing Nigeria at AFCON and there may also be call-ups for the likes of James Sands and Kemar Roofe with the USA and Jamaica involved in action in late January and early February.

Morelos hasn't been part of the Colombia set-up since last summer's Copa America but his upturn in form under Giovanni van Bronckhorst has earned him an international recall.

With Jermain Defoe being released from his Ibrox contract earlier this month, it leaves Rangers light upfront but there are three leading candidates who could be looked upon to fill the void.

Cedric Itten

The big Swiss was recalled from his loan spell in Germany with Bundesliga strugglers Greuther Furth given his lack of game time and also Rangers’ limited options up top.

He only netted twice, albeit one of the goals was a header against Bayern Munich and he also earned a recall to the Switzerland national team.

Light Blues boss van Bronckhorst explained the reasoning behind the decision to recall him from his loan when he was quizzed by the Rangers Review’s Joshua Barrie on Monday.

He said: “When I came in I assessed the players who were on loan.

“For me, when you go on loan it has to be beneficial for both, for the player, for their development but also for the club. So for me, it was obvious when Cedric wasn’t playing a lot in Germany, I would rather have him here in this squad instead of being in Germany without even playing.

“We had a zoom meeting with him and Cedric was very open in the discussions and felt the same way so I’m really happy he’s back now.

“It gives me more options upfront because he’s a different type than the players we have. Sometimes you need a player and a striker with his qualities so, in that way, I’m more flexible upfront with the type of players I have.”

READ MORE: Why Cedric Itten's Rangers return is a perfect fit for Giovanni van Bronckhorst

He returned to first-team action on Tuesday night when he replaced Morelos late on at Pittodrie but never had a chance to make much of an impression given Rangers were under the cosh and playing with 10-men due to the unjust dismissal of Ryan Kent.

However, it’s clear van Bronckhorst rates the 25-year-old and trusts him to lead the line and given the way he prefers his centre forwards to play as opposed to how Steven Gerrard utilised Itten, then we may see him excel.

Kemar Roofe

When Kemar Roofe was signed by Rangers in August 2020, there was a feeling he was the ready-made replacement for Morelos who was thought to be leaving for pastures new.

That never materialised but the former Leeds United man made a significant contribution as the club embarked on a record-breaking season.

He netted 14 league goals, posting a league-high xG per 90 and his displays in Europe highlighted the reasons why Rangers shelled out a substantial fee to prize him away from Anderlecht.

This season has been a frustrating one for Roofe with injuries, once again, limiting his minutes on the pitch. He has only started once under van Bronckhorst, the Europa League dead rubber away to Lyon and coming off the bench to net the winner from the penalty spot in a hard-fought victory over Hibs at Easter Road.

READ MORE: Rangers' conundrum: Where does Kemar Roofe fit in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's 4-3-3?

The Jamaican, when fit, is a valuable asset to Rangers and is a player who delivers on the big stage. Take last season’s Old Firm game at Ibrox as a prime example when he netted two wonderful goals in a 4-1 romp.

If we look at his shot map from last season, he is very much a penalty box forward and may benefit from van Bronckhorst preferring out-and-out wingers whose aim is to supply crosses into the box.

The key question that hangs over the 29-year-old is can he stay fit and clear of injuries to play his part, not only when Morelos is absent but for the title run-in?

Fashion Sakala

The likeable Zambian has had a stop-start season since joining from Belgian outfit Oostende.

He has been preferred, both under Gerrard and van Bronckhorst, as a wide player, often taking up position on the left hand side of the front three.

He has shown he has the tools to deliver big moments in games and, as his shot map below illustrates, he is outperforming his expected goals for the league campaign.

That being said, he has only started two matches under van Bronckhorst, with the Dutchman preferring Ryan Kent on the left and a combination of Ianis Hagi and Scott Wright on the right hand flank.

Could he play through the middle and fill the void left by Morelos? Well, the jury is very much out as the only times we have seen him play as the frontman was the opening day win over Livingston, the 1-1 draw with Motherwell at Ibrox in September and the Europa League defeat away to Sparta Prague. He, like many others that night, didn’t offer a great deal and he lacked the physicality and presence that Morelos offers, especially on those European nights.

If he is afforded the opportunity to lead the line, he has to grasp it with both hands otherwise his tenure at Ibrox may be limited to fleeting appearances from the bench.