Alfredo Morelos urged to become Rangers' smiling assassin as Michael Beale tells stars they're 'living the dream'

It’S been a season where Rangers have had little other choice but to grin and bear it.

But Michael Beale contends a little service with a smile might just be what’s required to turn frowns upside down and lift the mood round Ibrox. The new boss officially gets down to work tonight against Hibs as he takes charge of Gers on competitive duty for the first time since replacing Gio van Bronckhorst.

The Londoner has watched from a distance the term as the happy faces that beamed brighter with every step taken on the road to Seville last season have given way to glum looks all round. Few have looked more down in the dumps than Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent as the Europa League finalists’ season has imploded on the back of Champions League humiliation and repeated slip-ups in the Premiership. Out of form and soon to be out of contract, the new gaffer is worried by the message the dejected duo are sending out.

When it comes to stroppy striker Morelos, both of Beale’s predecessors Steven Gerrard and van Bronckhorst had issues connecting with Colombian. But there were early signs of an upturn in relations with the former QPR boss as the frontman returned to action during Saturday’s friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen looking leaner and keener than he has in months.

It’s early days yet but Beale is encouraged by what players are saying behind closed doors about their commitment to the cause. He’d just like them to tell their faces that.

Asked how he felt Morelos had responded since his arrival, Steven Gerrard’s former No.2 said: “We’re in the honeymoon period at the moment, me and him!

“No, we know each other. I’ve lived with him and he did some fantastic things when I was here before.

On a personal level, out on the training