Steven Gerrard admits there is no guarantee Alfredo Morelos will see out the season at Rangers

Alfredo Morelos looks on from the substitutes' bench as Rangers beat Livingston 2-0 at Ibrox on Sunday. The Colombian striker is set to return to the starting line-up against Lech Poznan on Thursday night. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

When the transfer window closed in Qatar last Sunday night, the latest bout of speculation over the future of Alfredo Morelos came to an end.

But Rangers manager Steven Gerrard accepts it is simply a temporary cessation to the transfer noise which so often surrounds his Colombian international striker who was most recently linked with a move to Qatari club Al-Duhail.

“I’m a little, tiny bit more certain about Alfredo in the short term,” said Gerrard with a smile. “But are we out of the woods on that one? In Alfredo’s case, I have always been in the woods since day one here.

“And I think I will remain in the woods while Alfredo’s here. I just manage Alfredo from day to day, week to week. He’s available now until January. I can’t predict the future beyond that.

“We are happy to have him here. We need him back at his top level in terms of his form and scoring goals in the short term. That’s my only priority right now.”

After going six games without a goal, Morelos sat out Rangers’ 2-0 Premiership win over Livingston at Ibrox on Sunday. He is set to return to the side for Thursday’s Europa League Group D clash at home to Lech Poznan and Gerrard hopes the increased competition for places up front, following the summer signings of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten, will be of benefit to Morelos.

“Time will tell over the course of the season. It’s fantastic for me to be in the position of having the quality and options I have available.

“It’s a challenge for all of them to stay in form, stay sharp and keep themselves in a good place. It’s the players who are in a good place, good form and scoring goals who are the ones likely to get the most minutes.

“We have been heavily reliant on Alfredo for a large part of the last couple of years. We are in a better place now, we have other options, so that should be helpful to Alfredo and the other boys."

Gerrard, meanwhile, confirmed that South African midfielder Bongani Zungu, could make his Rangers debut from the bench against Lech Poznan.

"If the game allows, he could maybe be introduced for a short time,” said Gerrard.

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