Rangers manager Steven Gerrard backs Alfredo Morelos to keep his cool against Celtic after red card last season

Alfredo Morelos has been backed to maintain calm by Rangers supervisor Steven Gerrard when his facet face Celtic on Sunday.

The prolific striker was despatched off 5 occasions final season, together with a straight pink for elbowing Hoops captain Scott Brown in March.

Morelos has solely been proven a pink card as soon as this time period, nonetheless, and that got here two weeks in the past for an inflammatory gesture aimed toward Motherwell supporters.

Gerrard believes the ahead, who has 28 objectives this season, has proven he has matured after coming off the bench to attain the winner for Rangers towards Kilmarnock on Boxing Day.

He mentioned: “I’ve received little question Alfredo shall be able to face this problem on the weekend. He’s in the very best place he may be. His behaviour has massively improved once more.

“When he got here on once more yesterday there have been folks making an attempt to impress him and he simply rolled on with it. He was good.

“It’s going to be hostile at Celtic Park, so it’s vital for all of the gamers to maintain their self-discipline. Feelings run excessive on a regular basis in derby matches.

“Let’s hope we’re speaking in regards to the soccer fairly than folks shedding their cool and sending offs.”

Morelos suffered recent derby agony earlier this month when he blew a string of possibilities – together with a second-half penalty – as Rangers didn’t convert Betfred Cup closing domination into silverware.

Nevertheless, there was no signal of a Hampden hangover, with the 23-year-old netting in every of the three video games he has featured in since.

And Gerrard hopes he’s now able to lastly break his 11-game drought towards Celtic this weekend.

He mentioned: “I assumed Alfredo’s all-round efficiency was actually good within the closing. He created a variety of the possibilities for himself out of nothing.

“He’s simply received to go do precisely the identical factor however try to take the massive moments within the recreation. If he does it would give us a greater likelihood of profitable.

“His interior resolve is an space of him that I don’t assume you ever have to fret about.

“He’s in love with soccer. He doesn’t like lacking one minute of coaching. He doesn’t like being a sub or coming off. He motivates himself each time he sees a ball.”