Rangers face 'major loss' for Old Firm involving £11.7m star

Rangers will have ‘big shoes to fill’ in the Old Firm derby after star striker Alfredo Morelos picked up an injury while on international duty, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Gers are set to host their bitter rivals Celtic this afternoon in what could prove to be a crucial clash in an enthralling Scottish Premiership title race.

Morelos – who is valued at £11.7m by Transfermarkt – returned from South America early for treatment after being away with his native Colombia but now faces a battle to recover for today’s match at Ibrox.

A statement from the Colombia Football Association revealed that following ‘medical examinations’ on the 25-year-old, ‘a muscle injury to his left thigh was confirmed’.

And Morelos was then seen on crutches at Glasgow Airport on Thursday as he reportedly headed down to London for a scan, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst later confirmed he will be unavailable for selection.

The stocky forward’s enforced absence will be a bitter blow for Rangers as they attempt to close the three-point gap at the top of the table.

In his 42 appearances across all competitions this season, Morelos has registered 19 goals and eight assists, firing the Glasgow giants to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

Morelos is Rangers’ leading scorer in the league at this moment in time, with fellow strikers Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala notching four goals fewer than their prolific teammate.

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And O’Rourke believes El Bufalo’s unavailability will be a ‘major loss’ for Van Bronckhorst’s charges going into arguably their biggest game of the season so far.

He told GiveMeSport: