ALFREDO MORELOS has been heading for the edge in terms of his Rangers career on several occasions. This time, though, it has felt as if he has been closer to the precipice than ever before.
So often the man that Rangers couldn't live without, there were moments when Steven Gerrard had to ponder whether he could live with him. Now Giovanni van Bronckhorst has found himself in that same position as Morelos has been the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons.
As per usual, it has been he himself that has been at fault. Once more, it is only Morelos who can solve the issues and Herald and Times Sport assesses the state of play as the striker looks to complete the journey from outcast to main man yet again.
WHY HAS MORELOS MADE THE HEADLINES THIS TIME?
The red card that the 25-year-old received at Easter Road earlier this month was the public tipping point. But there had been issues behind the scenes long before the petulant raise of the arm on Marijan Cabraja - a challenge that James Tavernier, the Rangers captain, labelled as 'stupid' - on the day that nine-man Rangers dropped two points in the title race.
A scoring return in the win over St Johnstone should have been the catalyst to his campaign and he made further appearances off the bench against Union Saint-Gilloise and Kilmarnock as he stepped up his recovery after five months out of action.
The home leg against PSV Eindhoven was telling, though. Antonio Colak got the nod to start and Morelos remained on the bench.
"Why? Colak played fine, he had energy and was very dangerous," Van Bronckhorst said when asked about that decision. "For me, that wasn't a point I had to change.”
A week on, the situation escalated. Morelos was left out of the squad for the return trip to Holland and his future was cast into doubt amid suggestions that Van Bronckhorst was concerned about his physical conditioning and mental frame of mind.
WHAT WAS SAID AND WHEN?
Just hours after the story broke, Van Bronckhorst addressed the travelling Press in Eindhoven. He was as up front and open as could have been expected but there was a sense that he hadn't written off Morelos at Ibrox and was prepared to work with him.
“I think he has to show me he wants to play for Rangers," Van Bronckhorst said as he admitted the decision was 'hard' on a personal level but 'easy' as a manager. "I know he wants to play, but to play for Rangers you need to have a certain level mentally and physically and at the moment I think he is not ready to play.”
Connor Goldson, the Rangers vice-captain, mirrored the sentiments of his manager. Rather than consulting senior players over the move, Goldson confirmed Van Bronckhorst had instead informed them of his call the day before the squad left Glasgow.
The response from Morelos came via his usual chosen outlet of social media. Writing on his Instagram page, alongside a photo of a raised fist, Morelos said: "The best warrior is not the one who always triumphs but the one who fearlessly returns to battle."
HOW HAS THE PROCESS EVOLVED SINCE THEN?
Van Bronckhorst was vindicated in his bold stance. Morelos had given Rangers a ready-made excuse if their Champions League dreams had been ended in Eindhoven but Colak was the hero as his strike secured group stage football and set up the meetings with Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli.
Once again, Van Bronckhorst's message was intriguing. The olive branch that had been extended before the game was there for Morelos to grasp after it.
"Morelos qualified for the Champions League here too," Van Bronckhorst said. "I think he is also proud, he sees his team-mates and his club qualify for the biggest competition in the world.
“He is still a Rangers player and I will push him the way I can to get him fit and to get back the Morelos we all want.”
Suspension ruled the forward out of the visit of Ross County on Saturday. The following day, he had to convince his manager he wanted to be at Ibrox.
SO A RESOLUTION HAS NOW BEEN REACHED?
The contract discussions, which were nearing a resolution, were paused when Morelos was dropped from the squad. His talk with Van Bronckhorst was much more important.
"I had a good chat with him on Sunday," Van Bronckhorst said after the win over Queen of the South on Tuesday night. "He had a good week to train, but also to think about his future.
"I had a good talk with him. As I said before, he is still a Rangers player. I think he is going to be important for us in the next months and this season.
"I saw a change in his attitude, the way he worked. He has to keep continue working like this for the next coming months to be the player he can be – and a player who can give us a lot."
On the face of it, common ground has been found and Van Bronckhorst appears happy to work Morelos back into the fold this term.
Questioning his conditioning and mindset was a bold public call and one which could have backfired. It may yet prove to be an astute manoeuvre.
WHERE DOES MORELOS GO FROM HERE?
That is up to him. A deadline day move away from Rangers is extremely unlikely so he will be part of the squad until the World Cup break at least and there is plenty for Morelos to focus on at home and abroad.
Come January, he will be free to discuss a Bosman exit. Rangers will have to decide whether to cash in or lose him for nothing if an extension to his contract is not earned and agreed by that stage.
Van Bronckhorst didn't offer any timescales on Tuesday night and it remains to be seen when Morelos returns to action. Given the run that Rangers have coming up, time is of the essence.
Rangers will be a better team with a fully fit, firing and focused Morelos but they are no longer beholden to his whims thanks to the fine form of Colak.
Rangers have always needed Morelos. Right now, Morelos needs Rangers just as much.
