After a weekend where a distinct lack of creativity was a real issue, seeing Ianis Hagi back in Rangers training gear and on the pitch is a huge boost for fans and, more importantly, for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The Gers gaffer spoke recently about the Romanian playmaker being on track for a return and that it won’t be long until he is able to add him to a match-day squad, as reported by The Glasgow Times:
“Ianis (Hagi) is in the final stretch, I am really happy for him as is one of our most creative players.”
Hagi hasn’t become a better player in his injury absence, but he was, usually, our first-choice option on the right-hand side of the forward line and, with Joe Aribo away, he’s now more likely to get game time in his preferred central position – an area where we could see the best out of him in a Rangers shirt.
The 23-year old is also one of only a few players that we have that can genuinely pick a pass in a defence that isn’t giving up much space, exactly what was missing against Livingston at the weekend.
There will still be a long way to go for Hagi in terms of fitness and, more specifically, match fitness, but his mindset will still be the same, a player who will take chances, not always look for the easy pass and drag those around him up to his level.
A criticism of Hagi is that he is a moments player, one who can be frustrating for 89 minutes before producing something in the 90th, it’s safe to say that we are missing those moments just now without making him out to be a better player than he really is.