Alfredo Morelos: Medical expert ‘worried’ about Rangers star after update pre-Celtic
Rangers star Alfredo Morelos could be risked against Celtic on Sunday (3 April) despite the fact he is not fully fit.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
BBC Sport reported last Sunday (27 March) that Morelos, 25, had been sent home by Colombia with a muscle injury in his left thigh.
The striker’s national team, who ultimately missed out on qualification, made the decision ahead of their final pair of vital World Cup qualifiers.
Rangers trail Celtic by three points ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox.
And Dinnery fears that the magnitude of the title race showdown could “cloud the judgement” when it comes to the final decision on Morelos.
“Any other game other than Celtic, I would have serious misgivings about him being involved,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“We know how important he is. Does that cloud the judgement of the manager?
“The concern is that, if it had been a non-competitive game and he’d returned home, I’d be less worried.
“But the fact that it was a World Cup qualifier and he has been sent home, that’s not a good indication.
“They weren’t prepared to take any risks with him. The travel time doesn’t give us many days before that Celtic game.
“Maybe he isn’t 100 per cent but could still be involved. It’s about the risk and reward.
“There will be discussions with the player and the manager and any decision will be made at the last minute.
“But it is a worry. Even if it is just a minor thigh strain, there is the worry that he might exacerbate that.”
Morelos has scored 19 times and supplied eight assists in 42 appearances this season.
The first leg of Rangers’ Europa League quarter-final against Braga takes place next Thursday (7 April).
In other news, Rangers tipped to match Celtic as ‘important’ Ryan Kent claim issued by Alex McLeish.