Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos hailed by Carlos Bacca

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Rangers striker Alfredo Morels has been praised by Carlos Bacca.

Villarreal striker Carlos Bacca has told the Daily Record that he thinks Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos will end up replacing him at international level.

Villarreal take on Rangers in the first group game of this season’s Europa League, with the Gers making the trip to El Madrigal for a daunting clash.

Javier Calleja’s side finished fifth in La Liga this season, and should be the toughest challenge Steven Gerrard has faced as Rangers manager so far.

One of the key players for Villarreal is striker Bacca, and he has had great words to say about one Rangers player ahead of Thursday’s game.

Bacca is now a Colombia international teammate of Alfredo Morelos, after the Rangers star picked up his first cap over the international break earlier this month, but failed to score against Venezuela having missed an open goal.

Morelos won’t actually be available for Rangers against Villarreal having been sent off in the second leg of their qualifying tie against Ufa last monht, but Bacca has still hailed his quality ahead of facing Rangers.

Bacca admitted that he’s actually disappointed Morelos isn’t playing, but it’s lucky for Villarreal as he is a really dangerous player, having seen him first hand on international duty – and even predicted that Morelos will be the future of the Colombia attack, replacing both Bacca himself and Radamel Falcao in the coming years.

“Morelos is a really good young player,” said Bacca. “I spoke to him during the international break and he told me he had been sent off in the last round so he wouldn’t play against us. He was very disappointed about it but it’s good for us because he’s a dangerous player. He did well when he came on in the international against Venezuela – he got a chance to score immediately. Unfortunately he didn’t take it, but he showed he knows how to get into the right position up front.”

“It’s a pity for him but it’s good for us that he will be missing. He’s a strong boy and he would be a tough opponent so it’s lucky for us he won’t play. I’m 32 and so is Radamel Falcao so Colombia has to bring in younger players for the future. If Alfredo continues to do what he’s been doing in a strong league he’ll be the future for us,” he added.