Pedro Caixinha says on-form Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is targetting 25 goals this season
Pedro Caixinha admitted hungry frontman Alfredo Morelos is targeting 25 goals this season after watching the Colombian extend his Rangers hot streak.
Pedro Caixinha admitted hungry frontman Alfredo Morelos is targeting 25 goals this season after watching the Colombian extend his Rangers hot streak.
The little forward now has seven goals in his last five appearances after netting a double in Gers' 4-1 drubbing of Dundee.
That impressive strike rate has seen the Ibrox faithful take quickly to the £1million summer acquisition from HJK Helsinki.
And his boss Caixinha says the 21-year-old is determined to continue giving them reason to cheer.
Asked if Morelos was capable of hitting 25 goals this term, Caixinha replied: “So far he has five in the league. It's early in the season but I know that he wants that.
“We are working with him. He's a young boy. He's keen to learn and always listens.
“He is getting his English better to understand the others. I can speak Spanish, so it's easy for me to communicate with him and let him understand what we want.
“So give him time to learn and build his confidence. He has the tools.
“He's a goalscorer, definitely, but we want more from him. We will help him get better like we help all the players.”
Morelos got the opener four minutes before the break after Daniel Candeias' clever flick opened up Dundee, while the wideman also created the second with a delicious cross for Josh Windass to head home on 69 minutes.
Caixinha's most expensive addition, £2.5million playmaker Carlos Pena, finally repaid some of his costly transfer fee after an unimpressive start to life at Ibrox as he slotted home from close range on 83 minutes.
Morelos added a fourth 60 seconds later as he rammed the ball past Scott Bain from an acute angle, with Faissal El Bakhtaoui's late finish proving little consolation for Dundee.
Victory is just what Gers wanted as they look to build momentum ahead of this month's opening Old Firm battle and Caixinha had nothing but praise for his team.
“I think the boys did really well,” he said. “We had a lot of chances and played some good football.
“We reorganised things at half-time to look for more goals and the second goal calmed down the team.
“The team are getting more confidence with the second straight victory in the league. It was also good for the confidence of Carlos to score his first goal.”
But the result is another blow to Dundee, who now sit bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership with just one point from their opening five games.
But boss Neil McCann - who claimed a groin injury was behind his decision to hook Scott Allan eight minutes before half-time - said: “I'm not concerned about where we are in the league - but that's not to say I'm happy about it. I'm far from happy about it.
“Anyone who knows me will know that I won't accept a defeat easily. But I can't be overcritical of my boys. I asked them to be brave today.
“It's a sore lesson but we'll dust ourselves down. I'm not panicking at all."