Barry Ferguson insists Rangers will struggle to replace a fit and firing Alfredo Morelos if they decide to get rid of him in the summer.

The Colombian is out of contract come the end of the season and is yet to be offered a new deal to extend his Ibrox career.

Morelos has been widely criticised this season for his performances and his physical condition with some suggesting that club should cut ties.

Ferguson is a huge admirer of Morelos and he admits that recent goals and improved performances are "messing with his head".

He wrote in the Daily Record: "Alfredo Morelos is messing with my head. Regular readers of this column will know by now that I’m a big admirer of the Colombian striker.

"When he’s been out of form, out of shape and even at times when he’s been bang out of order, I’ve been the first one to stand up for the guy and make a case for his defence. When others have said he is more trouble than he’s worth, I’ve always disagreed. Because when Morelos is focussed, fit and playing at the top of his game, there’s not a striker in the country who gets even close.

"If you don’t believe me then just ask the Hearts defenders who were taken apart by him on Wednesday night. They’ll be the first to admit that, when he’s in that kind of mood, he’s just about unplayable. And that’s why I’ve reached the point where I’m tearing my hair out with him. I watched him against St Johnstone last Saturday and I started to wonder if his heart is really in it after all.

"Yes, he was sharp at times and the touch that set up Glen Kamara’s goal was out of this world. But I was left feeling disappointed, frustrated and more than a little bit short changed because the Alfredo Morelos I know is capable of giving so much more. Then I’m sitting on my sofa watching him terrorising Hearts at Tynecastle and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Where was that guy hiding at the weekend?’.

"Honestly, I just can’t work him out any more. And I don’t have the first clue what’s going through his own mind now that he’s entering into the last few months of his Rangers contract. Yes, he’s looking fitter and sharper than he has been for a long while. And that’s great. But we shouldn’t be giving a pat on the back for that now that we’re going into February!

"So I don’t know if he’s trying to win himself a new deal to stay at Ibrox beyond the summer. Or if he’s getting his act together in the hope of winning himself a big move somewhere else. But what I do know is that when he plays like that he’s almost impossible to replace. Centre forwards of that quality simply don’t grow on trees."