The Rangers manager has confirmed Morelos’s absence from Sunday’s Derby.
Undoubtedly a loss for the home side – he is their top scorer with 18 goals in 42 appearances.
Is this a big positive for Celtic?
In 18 matches versus Celtic in the 5 seasons he has been in Scottish football, here are Morelos’s goal stats:

His 2 goals both came in the last COVID campaign. His overall scoring record of 0.14 per 90m is very low.
However, his xG is 0.54 which is nearer what you might expect. His overall xG is 7.97 so 2 represents a very low return – perhaps he was due some mean reversion?
Brushing Tavernier (pen) aside to miss the League Cup Final penalty in 2019 “boosts” these stats.
That was, in many respects, his most unforgettable match versus Celtic. He had 9 shots with xG of 1.78. 6 of them were saved by Forster.
Even higher than his xG tally is his xCards! He has accumulated 10 yellows and 2 reds versus Celtic (not counting the non-Beaton cards).
Light hearted Buffalo-foolery aside, Morelos will be a big loss to The Rangers in terms of how successfully he fulfils the striker role in Van Bronckhorst’s system. Under the Dutchman his role has been simplified and concentrated on staying within the width of the box where possible.

His season heatmap shows a greater preponderance to be central to the goal. And also, how he drops into that 30 yard from goal zone to fight for the ball and link up.
He is stronger than any other striking option in terms of hold up play and creativity. Also, his ability to “win” free kicks is, errr, legend.
If it is Roofe, who played at Celtic Park if you noticed (0 xG and 0 xA), he brings slightly more pressing intensity but otherwise is inferior to the Colombian.
Morelos’s record against Celtic is very poor so this absence may not make a huge difference to Celtic but is very much a blow to The Rangers and how they play.