Gordon Strachan urges Andy Halliday to stand up to Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos

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Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

Gordon Strachan has urged Rangers player Andy Halliday to stand up to Alfredo Morelos after he was sent off during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Celtic on Sunday.

Former Premiership manager Strachan claimed that just like the Joey Barton situation a number of years ago, someone like Halliday needs to stand up and be ‘straight talking’ with Morelos.

The 22-year-old has clear problems in his game because he has been sent off at least five times this season, including for his elbow on Scott Brown over the weekend.

Speaking to Kick Off on talkSPORT (01/04/2019 at 8:00 pm), former Celtic manager Strachan made it clear what the Gers players must do in order to address the clubs big issue with their main player.

“I still think there’s room for people to be straight talking,” Strachan told talkSPORT. “Andy Halliday, he knows how it affects the supporters because he is one of them. I had Andy at Middlesbrough. The biggest thing in the world for him and you could see he was upset [towards the end of the Old Firm game].

“But I think Andy has already stood up to Joey Barton. So, I think there is somebody in there in Andy who can do that and stand up [to Morelos]. And I think Steve Davis as well. He might be able to say ‘listen, you’re affecting us, but most importantly you’re affecting the club because this club wants to go forward and you’re the guy to help us go forward'”

Midfielder Halliday had problems of his own during the fiery Old Firm fixture because he was sent off after the final whistle for his confrontation with opposing captain Brown.

Things will only get spicier as the season draws to a close because both teams are set to meet once again with the chances of someone seeing red being very high.

They will clash at Ibrox and Steven Gerrard will be hoping his team can secure all three points, just like they did before the winter break in December.

On Wednesday night, the Gers have a chance to get back to winning ways when they host Hearts in the Premiership, with their rivals making the trip to St Mirren.