Unwanted former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has been handed a career lifeline by bottom-placed Mexican club Cruz Azul.

The Colombian hitman is still without a club despite being available on a pre-contract since January and as a free agent since leaving Rangers at the end of last season.

He maintained last month that he was searching for a club at a 'top European league' and insisted he wasn't concerned about not getting a new team.

However, despite reported interest from clubs in Spain, Turkey and England, he remains unemployed despite serious interest from clubs in Russia too.

But now Mexico City side Cruz Azul are set to send out an SOS to Morelos after a nightmare start to their new season.

They sit bottom of Liga MX with just one point from their first five games and are in desperate need of a striker after scoring just three goals so far this season

Morelos, who spent six years at Ibrox and scored 124 goals for Rangers, would have three Colombians for teammates after Cruz Azul snapped up Diber Cambindo, Willer Ditta and Kevin Castano this transfer window too.

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Meanwhile, Tom Lawrence stepped up his recovery from a long-term injury with his first start in over a year.

The midfielder made an appearance in the Rangers B team win over Hamilton Accies.

The game finished 4-2 to Rangers B and the Wales international even got on the scoresheet. 

His last competitive showing for the Ibrox side came for the first team on August 27 last year as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men defeated Ross County 4-0.

Cole McKinnon netted a brace, while Ross McCausland scored the other goal of the match at the Rangers Training Centre.

As well as Lawrence being afforded the opportunity to get some vital minutes under his belt, and to gain some match sharpness, Leon King also played alongside Johnly Yfeko.