The fact that Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers odyssey was allowed to run for a couple of years more than it should is a matter of regret for all parties.
By the time the forward was winding down his contract in 2022-23, he was clearly struggling physically and already appeared to have his mind on other matters.
The dozen goals he netted in that campaign were indicative of a diminishing force. The Colombian hit 30 in 2018-19 and 29 the following season en route to becoming Rangers’ record European goalscorer.
Nothing that came in his later days will dull the memory of him in his pomp in the minds of the club’s supporters. Physical, powerful and deadly in front of goal.
While bulletins of his struggles back in South America suggest the career of a fine talent is now only going to go one way, Morelos’ contribution to Rangers feels as pertinent as ever.
Although Hamza Igamane probably won’t welcome comparisons with anyone as he tries to make his own way in the game, a similarity in styles with the former fans’ favourite makes them inevitable.
Also aged 21 when he first walked through the door at Ibrox, the Moroccan was largely hidden from public view after signing from AS FAR last summer. Increasingly, though, those days spent acclimatising to Scottish football look to have been put to good use.
When Igamane thumped the ball beyond Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan early on Wednesday, he chalked up his 13th goal in 25 appearances for Rangers and his seventh in six games. He’s now one goal ahead of where Morelos was at the same juncture.
Allied to a liking of physical contact and an ability to roll defenders, drawing parallels with peak Morelos is becoming impossible to avoid.
‘Are they natural goalscorers? Yes, they are,’ offered Ianis Hagi, a team-mate of both.
‘Are they different in terms of qualities? Probably, yes. As a striker, when you sign for Rangers, you need to score goals. And at the moment, Hamza’s doing that, and we need to keep him fit and work for him.
‘Obviously, myself and the other players that play behind him, we’re trying to create as many opportunities for him as possible.
‘Hopefully he’ll stay fit. He’ll definitely score goals.’
The fervent hope for Rangers is that Igamane becomes renowned for nothing else.
Rarely cited as a consummate professional, Morelos’ lifestyle left much to be desired and did him no favours.
Indulged by his club when the goals came thick and fast, a lack of application and discipline eventually caught up with him.
The fact Igamane’s interests away from the training appear to stretch no further than relaxing in front of a gaming console thankfully suggests it’s only a playing style he and Morelos presently have in common.
‘Everybody has a different character,’ Hagi added. ‘It’s not just Buff or Hamza.
‘Obviously, he’s a young lad, and hopefully guys like myself and other players who have more experience can help him whenever he has tough situations or certain situations he didn’t really face before.
‘So yes, hopefully we can help him as much as possible. And as long as he scores goals, then that’s what we need.’
It’s still early days, but you can understand why Rangers supporters are allowing themselves to get carried away with Igamane.
Forced to watch the likes of Sam Lammers and Fabio Silva struggle last season, some would have taken even an out-of-shape Morelos back in a heartbeat.
Igamane represents hope that a player who’s truly worthy of their adulation is in their midst again.
‘I don’t think there’s many players around the world that can cope with this type of pressure,’ said Hagi. ‘To perform and win every three days, it’s tough.
‘So, at 22, to be able to do that, you can’t really find it around the world that much. And those who can cope, then obviously, they can achieve so much stuff moving forward.’
Igamane has become the shining light in a season when Rangers have often found themselves peering into the gloom.
As welcome and deserved as Wednesday’s victory against the Dons was, the 13 points separating Philippe Clement’s team from Celtic means hopes of winning the title are somewhere between slim and zero.
While the big prize looks beyond their grasp for another year, there is considerable scope to ensure the campaign is not a write-off.
A home tie with Fraserburgh on Sunday should see Rangers take a first step towards the Scottish Cup final. Then comes the rather more alluring prospect of facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday in the Europa League.
Injured in a Scottish Cup tie against Stirling Albion three years ago, Hagi watched on from afar as Rangers went all the way to the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Clement’s side already looking good for the knock-out round of this year’s tournament, the Romanian senses a similar opportunity to reach the latter stages.
‘Oh, yeah, 100 per cent,’ he said. ‘I think we showed as a club the last five, six years that we can perform at a really high level European-wise.
‘We got to a European final, a few quarter-finals, so we enjoy playing in the European games.
‘Up until now we’ve performed quite well against really tough teams, so we’re definitely, as a group, as a collective, we’re definitely looking forward to those type of games.
‘Obviously, the cup is really important for us. And then in Europe we had a great season up until now, so hopefully the guys can get it over the line. Why not finish in the top eight moving forward and hopefully have a really good last six months or five months of the season?’
If the form book is anything to go by, Clement’s team will acquit themselves well when they cross the border.
It’s been their inability to habitually win league games on the road that’s all but ended their hopes of the title.
‘It brings me back to what I said after the Celtic game, that we need to be consistent during 90 minutes,’ Hagi stressed after another 3-0 win over Jimmy Thelin’s side.
‘And these are the type of performances that we think it’s a step forward — we’ve been consistent for 90 minutes, and we played defensively, offensively, what we planned.
‘We have to look back at it and play this type of game on every few days. And this is the challenge for us going forward.’
