Ally McCoist admits Ianis Hagi ‘would certainly start in my side’ after watching Rangers struggle during their 1-1 UEFA Europa League draw with Aris Limassol on Thursday night.
Now, the Rangers legend did not go as far as to name names when discussing those he would replace in a heartbeat if offered the chance to bring Ianis Hagi back to Ibrox from his loan spell at Deportivo Alaves.
But it doesn’t take much to read between the lines.
Todd Cantwell lasted only 36 minutes. Ineffective before being replaced by Ross McCausland, the scorer of Rangers’ second-half equaliser. Sam Lammers was, well, typically Sam Lammers.
And then there’s Jose Cifuentes, the £1.2 million enigma who’s performances in Gers blue continue to make a mockery of the excitement which greeted his summer arrival.
Rangers struggle to Aris Limassol draw
“(Ianis Hagi) would certainly start in my side ahead of one or two this evening,” McCoist told TNT Sports during their live coverage (30 November, 8pm).
“I’m just trying to give you an honest answer. No getting away from it.”
McCoist has spoken publicly about his admiration for Hagi in the past. The Romania international, he believes, is a burst of pace away from being an ‘absolutely top-class’ attacking midfielder, and his return to form over in Spain potentially breathes fresh life into a Rangers career put on hold during a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
Hagi was named Romania’s Player of the Month for October, caught the eye off the bench against Barcelona, and then fired his country into next summer’s European Championships with a dramatic late winner against Israel.
Ianis Hagi getting back to his best
“A few years ago, I declared that Ianis and (Empoli’s) Razvan Marin would be the leaders of the national team. But I knew it would take time. When I said that, they were still young. Little by little, they integrated very well,” Florin Cernat, who played 14 times for the Tricolorii, tells GSP.
“I’ve been with them, played with them, and seen their potential. They are among the most important players right now.
“With Ianis, it was only a matter of time. I was not worried about his qualities, because he is perhaps the most complex player I have seen so far. I mean, hitting the ball with both feet, intelligence in the game, the qualities that he has…”
