THE future of Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is uncertain following a spate of dismal displays but he’s not the only one who should be nearing the Ibrox exit door.

Alfredo Morelos was afforded a rare opportunity to lead the line against St Mirren on Saturday with an injury sustained by Antonio Colak.

The Colombian failed to grasp the chance given to him and, as he has done several times before, he let his manager down badly with a pitiful display.

He’s not the only player to have underperformed this season but he looks like he would rather be anywhere else on the planet than on a football pitch representing the club that have rewarded him handsomely over the years.

Morelos is out of contract next summer and while talks have been ongoing, Saturday’s performance at the SMISA Stadium should bring an immediate end to those negotiations until further notice.

Van Bronckhorst was quizzed on the striker’s contract situation prior to the clash with the Buddies, he responded: “I am very confident and positive but it doesn’t mean it will happen.

“We will see. I am a confident person but for me, it is not my decision so it is very difficult for me to say if a new contract will happen.”

As Rangers limped to a draw against Stephen Robinson’s men, Morelos consistently gave the ball away and offered very little in an attacking sense. His whole demeanour and body language suggest someone who has mentally checked out.

There could be an argument that after spending five-and-a-half seasons plying his trade in Scotland then a change of scenery would do him the world of good and there could be an element of truth in that.

But, as it stands, he’s not offering anywhere near the level of quality expected of a player of his stature. It’s been sad to watch what has been a dramatic demise and he risks tarnishing his legacy at Ibrox if it continues.

His abject display saw former Rangers striker Kris Boyd call him out afterwards. “I don’t think he is going about it the right way if he is wanting a new contract that is for sure,” he said.

“I listen to a lot of people and they say he deserves it for what he has done in the past. It is in the past.

“I think everything is slow and lethargic. If you look at him he isn’t getting involved in things. He is taking himself away from the action.

“People will say he has not played a lot of football. That is because of him.

“Antonio Colak was brought in as back-up for Morelos and he has now replaced him because of the way Morelos is.

“At the start, if you could have picked one you would have picked Morelos. He has got himself into this condition.

“He has got himself into this position in his career where he is at a crossroads. He is on a healthy contract at Rangers and rightly so for what he done in the past.

“That doesn’t guarantee you a new one right now. There is no doubt about it he has let his teammates down, he’s let his club down and something needs to be done about it.

“It shouldn’t take a new contract for him to start trying.”

Rangers Review: (Image: NQ)

A lot of what Boyd says rings true, why should the club, who have consistently rewarded their prized asset, consider offering him another lucrative deal based on what is being served up? 

With Kemar Roofe consistently unavailable, Rangers simply need to strengthen in the forward area in January. The succession line may already be at the club with Robbie Ure coming on as a late substitute on Saturday and Zak Lovelace netting consistently for the B Team but both players are teenagers and need time to develop. Rangers need a reliable and predatory striker to boost their firepower going into the second half of the season.

There cannot be an overreliance on Antonio Colak who started his Rangers career in great form but the goals have dried up for the Croatian with just one goal in his last eight outings. Morelos, historically, has never been prolific domestically. He has found the back of the net on three occasions this term and only notched 12 times in each of the last three seasons. To put it into context, Colak has 11 Premiership goals to his name already.

Should there be a managerial change you could argue it may prove beneficial to Morelos. After all, van Bronckhorst saw an upturn in his form when he took over from Steven Gerrard last year. Whether or not that occurs, El Bufalo needs to have a long hard look at himself and decide what he wants his career to look like going forward whether that be at Rangers or wherever else.

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