Charlie Nicholas has taken aim at Alfredo Morelos following Sunday's League Cup final - insisting the striker's Rangers career should be over.

The Colombian scored and led the line from the off for Michael Beale's side but he was ultimately isolated during 90 minutes as Celtic went on to lift the silverware.

After Morelos scored he was substituted for fellow striker Antonio Colak and he was visibly frustrated as he trudged off the pitch.

Nicholas was far from impressed by the 26-year-old's display and he has urged Beale to cut ties sooner rather than later.

He wrote in the Daily Express: "The League Cup must surely be Alfredo Morelos's final stand. I don't know why Michael Beale has stood by him for so long. Steven Gerrard did the same thing. Time after time and red card after red card.

"Why do they keep playing Morelos? I know he scored at Hampden but the League Cup final defeat exposed his limitations. Look at the difference between the Celtic strikers and Morelos. Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi are both fit, sharp and ready to run themselves into the ground. Morelos, for me, is playing at 75 per cent capacity because he is simply not fit.

"Morelos hardly troubled Celtic's back two the whole game because he couldn't run in behind them. He just wants to scrap and fight because he struggles to run away from players. When you are playing at 25 per cent below your capacity then it is seriously damaging, especially in an Old Firm game.

"If Morelos was to get 90 per cent then he would be up there like he was when Rangers were doing well in the Europa League. He hasn't hit those heights for some time. Beale, inexplicably, has kept playing him. Goals in cup finals mean nothing unless you win them. Yes, he got on the scoresheet, but other than that his contribution was zero.

"Morelos just doesn't bring a danger against Celtic - it's not as if he helps his side with his hold-up play or even takes the pressure off his team-mates. Beale must see how short Morelos is leaving Rangers and that can be the difference in the big games.

"If he continues to stick by the Colombian then it could choke the Rangers manager. Antonio Colak might not be better than Morelos but he is certainly fitter than him. Playing Morelos from the start in the cup final while leaving Nicolas Raskin on the bench was a strange decision."