Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers have a League Cup semi-final on the horizon.
Motherwell defender Peter Hartley has told The Scottish Sun that a previous battle with an “absolute tank” in Adebayo Akinfenwa stands him in good stead if Rangers hitman Alfredo Morelos wants a physical battle with him on Sunday.
Hampden Park plays host as Rangers and Motherwell clash at the national stadium to determine who reaches the final of the Scottish League Cup.
Pedro Caixinha’s Gers side will be favourites to progress after signing some superb players during the summer – including Morelos.
The Colombian marksman has bagged eight goals in 11 league and cup outings following his £1 million move from HJK Helsinki and has previously admitted that he likes the rough-and-tumble nature of Scotland’s top flight.
And former Bristol City defender Hartley says that suits him down to the ground after coming through the mother of all physical battles unscathed when he faced Akinfenwa in a League Two playoff final for Plymouth in 2016.
“If that’s one of his strengths [physicality] then we will see what happens,” he told The Scottish Sun. “I don’t mind a physical fight — and if he wants one after the match as well, then I won’t be going anywhere!
“Big Adebayo Akinfenwa played for Wimbledon that day at Wembley, and he’s twice as wide as me — an absolute tank.
“Akinfenwa scored for them, but I was off the pitch at the time getting treatment because he had landed right on top of me!”
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