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Rangers star could make finals debut in crunch clash as manager hints at changes

Photo by ANDREW MILLIGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ANDREW MILLIGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos could make his Copa America debut for Colombia in the early hours of Monday morning after manager Reinaldo Rueda hinted at changes for the clash with Peru in the Brazilian city of Goiânia.

Ibrox hero Morelos is yet to feature in either of Colombia’s two games in the competition so far, the only one of four centre-forwards in the squad not to have seen action.

Rueda spoke to the media ahead of his side’s clash with Peru in and suggested he could make changes to the team that spluttered to a disappointing draw with Venezuela in their second of four group game fixtures.

Rodriguez row causing problems on and off the pitch for Colombia

A 1-0 win over Ecuador kicked off the campaign for Rueda’s side but the absence of big-name stars James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao has been noticeable.

While Falcao’s absence through injury was unavoidable, Everton’s Rodriguez has rubbished Rueda’s suggestions he wasn’t fit to play at Copa America

Many fans – in Scotland and Colombia – thought this would open the door for the Rangers talisman to add to his solitary goal for his country as they look to regain the trophy they last won in 2001.

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Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

A final day game with hosts Brazil is one the Colombians don’t want to go into needing a win to secure their place in the last eight and Morelos could well make the difference if he’s given the chance against Peru.

Morelos would likely come into the side to replace Duvan Zapata, the striker having a number of chances against Venezuela’s Wuilker Faríñez but failed to net as he looks for his first international goal since October.

Rueda’s comments suggesting there could be changes to the side, allied to the lack of minutes for Morelos so far, will hopefully see El Buffalo in the starting XI in Goiânia.