Steven Gerrard insists nobody can question Alfredo Morelos’ commitment to the Ibrox cause after he put his battered body on the line in Gibraltar.
The Colombian international was stretchered off with a gaping hole in his knee after a challenge from Dundee United’s Ryan Edwards last Saturday.
He got himself stitched up and then went out and unpicked Lincoln Red Imps on their artificial pitch on Thursday.
That Europa League double saw him move to within one goal of Ally McCoist’s European record.
Rangers boss Gerrard knows lesser characters would have ducked out of the trip to Gibraltar but the frontman once again proved to be the rock on which their Euro success was founded.
The Colombian’s head had been turned earlier in the transfer window after Lille’s ongoing interest and he missed the win over Kilmarnock but after that Gerrard sat him down for a heart to heart.
Since then the striker has come back firing on all cylinders.
Gerrard said: “Alfredo is fine. He has still got stitches in his knee but he played with no problems and he will be available for us, which is impressive given the injury he has got.
“To come through so quickly after that was fantastic.
“That is a great visual for me all the time, when I see him smiling, enjoying his football and in good shape. He is a fantastic goal scorer.
“His goals were different but they were two fantastic finishes. In the right place at the right time for the first one, which you don’t coach.
“You are born with that when you sniff those goals out and at the second goal, he shows his class and his touch.
“But even before a ball was kicked, even just to make himself available, he is very robust and, as a manager, he is always there for you.
“A lot of players wouldn’t have come through with what he had from the weekend so I am really pleased for him and it is great to see him smiling.
“I think he has a really good rapport with the players when he is out there on the pitch. He has seemed a lot happier in the last few weeks.”
The Ibrox boss knows there is plenty of time before next month’s transfer window closes and there is still a chance that Morelos could leave.
Gerrard admitted: “I said a few weeks back that in my situation you just take each day as it comes.
“The good thing is Alfredo is playing well, he’s in much better shape, he’s looking sharper, he’s scoring goals.
“And he’s looking happy, so we just take it day by day.
“I think the rest is a question for Alfredo and his representation to answer, rather than myself.
“But for me, at the moment he is fit, he’s available. It was fantastic to see him pull through.
“Alfredo is somebody who will put his body on the line for the club and he showed that by playing with the injury he sustained at the weekend.”
The Ibrox side face a tough challenge when they travel to third-placed Hibs on the back of Thursday’s trip to Gibraltar.
Gerrard has been impressed with the job Jack Ross and his team have done this season but reckons it will all come down to what his unbeaten Gers do.
He said: “My focus is on Rangers and what we produce on the day. We are going to go there and be on the front foot, be aggressive and bold.
“From where I sit it is going to be a case of ‘Can Hibs stop us?’
“We’re not going to Easter Road to set up defensively or to play for a draw. We’re going there to win the game.
“Yes, Hibs do play a bold, attacking game and we will have to see what we come up against.
“I would certainly be guessing because I don’t know how Jack Ross is going to play and set up but I believe I have got a good idea.
“If you go on their previous games and what they have shown this season, I think it would be very strange if they changed their style.”
Rangers will travel to Willem II next week in the Europa League knowing the winners will face the victors of the Galatasaray and Hajduk Split clash.
The Ibrox boss said: “We are certainly aware that the level is going to go up in the next round.
“We watched the game Willem II played against Progres and they are a good team with good players, good, exciting attacking players.
“We are certainly aware of the challenge and it is going to become a lot more difficult but it is certainly a game that we are looking forward to.
“We have to go to Hibs first and put in a performance there.”
Rangers expect Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun to be fit for Easter Road but Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and Brandon Barker will all miss out.
