Former Rangers captain Richard Gough says it is time referees started showing Alfredo Morelos more protection after accusing rival teams of targeting the Ibrox striker.

Gough does not blame opposition defenders for trying to provoke a reaction out of the hot-headed Colombian.

In fact, he even admits he would have done the same to a player who has picked up 10 yellows and two red cards already this term.

The 22-year-old's first dismissal against Aberdeen – later overturned on appeal – came after Dons defender Scott McKenna aimed an off-the-ball barge at the frontman and Gough believes that was a deliberate ploy.

Now the former Ibrox favourite says it is time officials wised up to centre-backs employing the 'dark arts' of their trade in a bid to tempt Morelos into trouble.

He told Press Association Sport: "Being an experienced defender, if I was playing against someone like him, knowing that he doesn't speak the language too well, knowing that he is quite combustible then yeah I'd definitely be niggling at him and trying to provoke a reaction.

"It's the dark arts of defending but the referees have got to realise that and give Alfredo a bit more protection.

"Teams are targeting him. Absolutely. Just look back to the opening day of the season against Aberdeen where McKenna has barged him twice and he reacted with a wee flick out.

"If you are an opposition manager you are telling your players to go wind him up. Give him a nudge off the ball and see what happens.

"But the thing I can't understand is that he seems to be getting booked for dissent a lot. But he can't speak English – so what do referees think he is saying to them?

"It's not like he's chatting back, it's just the way he's protesting with his arms out in the way South Americans do. There's a frustration about the boy and I think the officials need to give him a break."

Morelos started his career in his homeland with Independiente Medellín before making the move to Europe when he signed for HJK Helsinki.

But Gough admits the striker is still adapting to life in Scotland and needs a helping hand from officials.

"They need to understand where he comes from," he said. "I remember Sir Alex Ferguson saying he had to treat the foreigners differently from his British players because they respond differently. The British players he could give a real b********g and they would respond positively. If he tried that with the overseas guys, then he would lose them.

"I think the referees have got to tread a similar line. They need to show a bit of common sense.

"This treatment has gone on too long and it's time it stopped."