Alfredo Morelos on life after Rangers fast track as Santos fitness concerns over 'physically capable' star kiboshed

The early signs are good for Alfredo Morelos at Santos with reports in Brazil saying he's fit and ready for an instant starting debut this week.

Morelos endured a difficult summer after leaving Rangers on a free with a move to Fenerbahce torpedoed at the final hurdle. He turned his back on Europe to head back to South America, where Brazilian giants Santos - struggling desperately at the foot of the top flight - were ready to take a chance on him.

He's been spotted at training this week and already appears a hit with his new teammates, one video showing him running the gauntlet to the hilarity of the Santos stars. Morelos signed just ahead of international week which appears to have been a good time, giving him a run of training with the spotlight relatively off. But the pressure is gearing back up now ahead of Thursday's clash with Cruzeiro.

Reports in Brazil though have been glowing of Morelos' early impact. ge.globo say he has arrived, trained normally, and is "physically capable of playing" - putting concerns over his fitness which surfaced towards the end of his Rangers career in the rear-view mirror. The same report claims the club have notified the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation) to register him for this week - and since his name appeared in their Daily Information Bulletin over the weekend, he's cleared the red tape required to make his debut.

He's expected to start and just in time as far as struggling Santos are concerned. It's claimed it's an "urgent situation" given their desperate recent form, doubly so with fellow striker Yeferson Soteldo suspended after a red card against America MG.

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