Rangers loanee Jake Hastie is failing to impress during the early stages of his loan stint at Motherwell.
Hastie joined the Gers on a long-term deal in the summer of 2019 following a breakout few months at ‘Well, during which he scored seven Premiership goals.
Since then, though, things haven’t gone according to plan for the 21-year-old.
After making just two first-team appearances under Steven Gerrard, Hastie was sent on loan to Rotherham United. He started well at the EFL League One club but fell out of favour after a few months and saw his loan deal terminated in January.
The winger was on the fringes of the Gers squad thereafter and received no playing time before the global health crisis brought the Scottish game to a halt.
Therefore, it was no surprise when he embarked on another loan spell at the start of this campaign, returning to where it all began at Fir Park.
So far, he’s failed to make an impact.
Hastie started the opening game of the campaign against Ross County but was substituted before the hour mark.
In his second outing against Dundee United, he was hooked at half-time and then on Wednesday evening, he made an uneventful substitute appearance against Livingston.
The Steelmen haven’t scored whilst Hastie has been on the pitch in what has been a poor start to the season for Stephen Robinson’s side and the manager took aim at some of his squad after the midweek draw with Livi.
“I have been patient with players in pre-season but some of them were told tonight in no uncertain terms we are playing with seven men each week,” he said, as quoted by Not The Old Firm.
“That won’t keep happening. People have bad games and make mistakes, but I saw some things tonight I simply won’t settle for. This club has been good to people, it’s rescued careers and given them a platform. I don’t know if they are listening to agents, getting their heads filled with rubbish.
“They need to do it here before anyone leaves this football club. I am expecting a big reaction at Hibs on Saturday.”
It can’t be said for sure whether or not Hastie is one of the players Robinson is referring to here but it seems clear that if he wants to have a future at Rangers, he needs to start producing sooner rather than later.
