BlueMeanie
Well-Known Member
GREG Stewart has expressed confidence he can take over from suspended Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos in the Europa League rematch against Braga in Portugal next week and supply the goals which clinch a last 16 spot.
Morelos picked up a booking for dissent in the first-half of the first leg showdown against Ruben Amorim’s side at Ibrox on Thursday night and will miss the game in the Stadio Municipal de Braga this Wednesday.
However, the Colombian’s ban presents Stewart, who helped Steven Gerrard’s side come from two goals down against the Primeira Liga club to win 3-2 after coming on as a second-half substitute, with an opportunity of a rare start up front.
The 29-year-old has only been on target three times in the entire 2019/20 campaign, but his game time has been limited due to the form of Morelos and Jermain Defoe and he is confident he can justify his selection if Gerrard hands him a start
“You want your best players to be playing,” he said. “He (Morelos) will be disappointed he isn’t available, but I believe we have players who can step in if anyone is suspended or injured. If the gaffer needs me I am ready. It gives someone an opportunity to play.
“I think the Braga game showed we have strength and depth here. I have always felt we have had a great squad. When you get the opportunity when the gaffer calls you, you have to be ready. On Thursday I came on and the game went our way.
“You have to come in and train well and make sure you are ready when the chance comes along. In football you never know when the chance will come along. It isn’t easy watching, but everyone wants to play and the manager can only pick 11 players.”
The former Dundee, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Birmingham City player felt that Rangers enjoyed great success against Braga’s high defensive line and is convinced the Glasgow club can score over in Minho and go through.
“That was one of the criticisms of them (Braga), but we could have scored more goals ourselves,” he said. “Alfredo had a few chances and was unlucky not to take them. It was a game that could have been five or six each, with the chances each team had. I think we’ll definitely score over there.”
Rangers, who beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead at the end of December, have performed poorly domestically since play resumed after the winter shutdown and have fallen 10 points behind their city rivals in the Ladbrokes Premiership due to defeats to Hearts and Kilmarnock and a draw to Aberdeen.
But Stewart, speaking ahead of the league match with St Johnstone in Perth this afternoon, believes the win over Braga on Thursday has raised their confidence levels and will enable them to get back to their best.
“These sort of things happen in football,” he said. “Stuff like this can kick-start you again. But we can’t forget it’s only half-time and we now have another big game. There’s no room for any more mistakes.
“But the league is the bread and butter. Thursday night has gone and we need to be sure we’re ready. We realise we need to get the consistency back and go on a winning run. It’s something we need to do.
“We’ve probably been a bit sluggish in the league and gaffer talked about getting that spark back. To win from 2-0 hopefully gives us a boost and helps us going into the St Johnstone game.”
Morelos picked up a booking for dissent in the first-half of the first leg showdown against Ruben Amorim’s side at Ibrox on Thursday night and will miss the game in the Stadio Municipal de Braga this Wednesday.
However, the Colombian’s ban presents Stewart, who helped Steven Gerrard’s side come from two goals down against the Primeira Liga club to win 3-2 after coming on as a second-half substitute, with an opportunity of a rare start up front.
The 29-year-old has only been on target three times in the entire 2019/20 campaign, but his game time has been limited due to the form of Morelos and Jermain Defoe and he is confident he can justify his selection if Gerrard hands him a start
“You want your best players to be playing,” he said. “He (Morelos) will be disappointed he isn’t available, but I believe we have players who can step in if anyone is suspended or injured. If the gaffer needs me I am ready. It gives someone an opportunity to play.
“I think the Braga game showed we have strength and depth here. I have always felt we have had a great squad. When you get the opportunity when the gaffer calls you, you have to be ready. On Thursday I came on and the game went our way.
“You have to come in and train well and make sure you are ready when the chance comes along. In football you never know when the chance will come along. It isn’t easy watching, but everyone wants to play and the manager can only pick 11 players.”
The former Dundee, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Birmingham City player felt that Rangers enjoyed great success against Braga’s high defensive line and is convinced the Glasgow club can score over in Minho and go through.
“That was one of the criticisms of them (Braga), but we could have scored more goals ourselves,” he said. “Alfredo had a few chances and was unlucky not to take them. It was a game that could have been five or six each, with the chances each team had. I think we’ll definitely score over there.”
Rangers, who beat Celtic 2-1 at Parkhead at the end of December, have performed poorly domestically since play resumed after the winter shutdown and have fallen 10 points behind their city rivals in the Ladbrokes Premiership due to defeats to Hearts and Kilmarnock and a draw to Aberdeen.
But Stewart, speaking ahead of the league match with St Johnstone in Perth this afternoon, believes the win over Braga on Thursday has raised their confidence levels and will enable them to get back to their best.
“These sort of things happen in football,” he said. “Stuff like this can kick-start you again. But we can’t forget it’s only half-time and we now have another big game. There’s no room for any more mistakes.
“But the league is the bread and butter. Thursday night has gone and we need to be sure we’re ready. We realise we need to get the consistency back and go on a winning run. It’s something we need to do.
“We’ve probably been a bit sluggish in the league and gaffer talked about getting that spark back. To win from 2-0 hopefully gives us a boost and helps us going into the St Johnstone game.”
