On loan Rangers striker Ryan Hardie completed a marathon return from a lengthy knee injury with a goal on his first top-flight start for Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
The Scotland U21 international was ruled out for seven months after suffering an injury on loan at Livi last season and after hitting the back of the net in a 3-1 win over St Mirren he’s intent on working towards a long-term future at Ibrox.
As quoted by The Daily Record, he said after the match:
I’ve got until the end of the season at Rangers and I’ve got the season here to prove I can do it in the top division. There’s usually someone from Rangers at every game There’s a new loans manager (Billy Kirkwood) at Ibrox so I keep in contact with them.
My ambition is to do well enough here to go back to Rangers and if I can make it there then great.
I was worried my goalscoring touch would disappear but once I came back into training I started scoring again. Thankfully I’ve still got it.
Hardie scored eight times in 16 Scottish Championship appearances last term and clearly still knows his way to the scoresheet now he’s stepped up a level.
Hopefully he can now get consistent starts in the top-flight and show Steven Gerrard he is worth a new contract and more regular action in the Rangers senior side.
Now 21 years old, he’s at a crossroads in his Rangers career but it’s excellent to hear he is still motivated to make it at Ibrox.