Alfredo Morelos is now free from suspension for Rangers ahead of their home clash against Hibernian on Sunday.
Steven Thompson has spoken in awe of Rangers striker Jermain Defoe and the manner in which he has performed in the absence of star man Alfredo Morelos.
The BBC Sport pundit was especially impressed with Defoe’s movement and positioning as he claimed that he was doing things against Aberdeen that Ronald de Boer ‘used to do a lot’.
Over the weekend, Steven Gerrard’s side recorded a deserved 2-0 win over the Dons, with Defoe failing to get on the scoresheet but he was a constant threat throughout the match.
Speaking to Sportscene on BBC One (29/04/2019 at 12:20 am), former Premiership player Thompson spoke very highly of the performances Defoe is bringing to the table.
“I don’t think Defoe deserves to lose his place in the team,” Thompson told Sportscene. “His movement is absolutely sensational. He starts behind the centre-half. The centre-half doesn’t know where he is. Ronaldo de Boer used to do this a lot. Then he just jumps back onside.
“He’s got such experience and such quality. I think maybe it has taken him a bit of time to get up to speed. Now he’s getting a run in the team, Rangers are benefiting from that no doubt about it.
“I don’t see a reason to bring Morelos back into the side. Why would you change it now when it is going very well?”
Last month, Morelos was sent off during his sides 2-1 defeat at Celtic. As a result, he was given a four-match ban, a suspension he has now served.
For large parts of the Premiership season, Steven Gerrard has relied on Morelos’ goals, but Defoe is now proving that the Gers can produce the goods without him.
The former England international moved to Ibrox in January when he made a loan switch from Premier League side Bournemouth.
Initially, he struggled for regular game time, but over the course of the season, he has scored six goals and supplied five assists [transfermarkt].
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