Rangers face Aberdeen at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.
Two straight defeats will have seen Rangers interim manager Graeme Murty begin to question even the first names on his team sheet at Ibrox, as he looks to field a side capable of stopping the rot.
However, his plans ahead of Wednesday night’s clash against Aberdeen at Ibrox will have taken a might blow after first-choice striker Alfredo Morelos, after he suffered a hip injury.
Murty told the media in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon in a video posted on Rangers youtube channel, that the 21-year-old Colombian is a doubt for the crucial Scottish Premiership outing against Aberdeen.
“Alfredo at the moment is under the care of our physios,” Murty said. “He took a really nasty bang to his iliac crest, and there is a lot of swelling in that area – it is very sore. It is too soon to make a decision on him.”
Morelos had been in disappointing form prior to the match and his place in the side was in jeopardy anyway, after failing to score in his last 10 games. Now with him potentially ruled out, Murty must weigh up his options.
Veteran striker Kenny Miller has started all four outings under Murty and is expected to do feature from the off against Aberdeen, but it remains to be seen who will partner the 37-year-old.
The caretaker manager’s choices are nine-time Mexico international Eduardo Herrera or rookie Ryan Hardie. Murty must weigh up which is more of a risk – chancing Herrera’s form since his summer arrival, or handing 20-year-old Hardie just his third Rangers start.
Both players came off the bench to feature last time out in the 2-1 loss to Dundee, and now Murty has a decision to make. Herrera has made just one start for the Gers and is considered largely unproven.
Handing the former Pumas striker Herrera, 29, will offer Rangers proven top-flight experience, but his slow style play is hardly suited to the Scottish Premiership. Hardie knows Scottish football following loans with Raith and St. Mirren, but he is hardly tested at the top level.
Murty must go for proven goals over youthful exuberance by handing Herrera a start if Morelos cannot play, placing Hardie on the bench and bringing the Gers academy product on towards the end of the game if needed.
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