KILMARNOCK manager Steve Clarke has warned his defenders to beware Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos when the teams meet at Rugby Park tonight.

Considering the Colombian is Steven Gerrard’s side’s leading goalscorer, that might go without saying. But Clarke is keen to ensure his players are not provoked by the fiery 22-year-old.

Morelos has been sent off three times and amassed a further 13 yellow cards already this season and Clarke has stressed to his back four that they must not be sucked into a confrontation by the forward, who escaped sanction in his last appearance against Celtic, when he kicked Scott Brown in the groin, appeared to grab at Ryan Christie and stamped on Anthony Ralston.

“I have told my defenders to be careful because Morelos might be looking after himself,” said Clarke. “I have told them to be careful not to get involved with him.

 

“I think recent games and incidents have shown that Morelos can handle himself and, if he is looking after himself, my players need to be careful.”

It remains to be seen whether Gerrard will persevere with a lone striker up or pair Morelos with new signing Jermain Defoe but Clarke will plan for either option.

“Jermain is a really good player,” he said. “Defoe is terrific; you don’t need to talk him up because his record speaks for itself. He and Morelos up front will be an interesting combination.”

Reports have claimed that Rangers are paying between £35,000-65,000 of Defoe’s £130,000 weekly wage at Bournemouth to take the former England striker to Ibrox on loan for 18 months.

Even the lower figure is greater than Clarke’s squad earns each week but he argues that it merely highlights how well his players – who would move above Rangers with a victory – have done.

 

“I think the fact Rangers can bring in Defoe puts in context how much we are punching above our weight,” he said.

“The bigger clubs have always had more money to spend but we have assembled a group of players here who’ve shown they can be competitive, no matter the budget. “We’re not the only team who do it; St Johnstone, Motherwell and other clubs in the league have done it. That’s the way Scottish football is.

“We have improved since I’ve been here. When I came in I had no pre-conceived ideas about the squad and I didn’t know what I was getting. What I had was a talented group who needed a bit of direction; since then we have done okay.

“The incentive for us against Rangers is to keep our consistency going. If we get a point it would be good but if we get three that would be great.

“We’ve worked well in January and we’re ready to tackle the next part of the season until the famous split. We’re looking to get as many points as we can until then and then we will see where we are and what our targets are.”

Clarke insisted that he has no concerns about the attitude of winger Jordan Jones, who has signed a pre-contract arrangement with Rangers and will move to Govan in the summer.

“I have never been a situation when I could run down my own contract and move on a free transfer.

“For me, I would look at it that Jordan has himself secured in the summer and he can now go and express and enjoy himself for the last four months of the season,” he said.

“He can try to play to his highest level, which he’s done consistently since I came here. If he can do that then he’ll move to his next club in a better frame of mind.

“Jordan can show everyone what he can do. I’ve never had an issue with his mental preparation; he has always been good. I also have players other than Jordan, because one good player doesn’t make a team.”