It was a mixed Rangers return for Romanian international Ianis Hagi at Ibrox against St Johnstone.
After a summer of discontent, the 25-year-old playmaker finally returned to the Rangers fold, coming off the bench for the second half of the 2-0 win over the Saints.
Playing his role in the victory, Ianis Hagi set up Vaclav Cerny for the second goal of the game to register an assist against the backdrop of a raucous Ibrox welcome.
But it wasn’t all smiles as Hagi eventually left the pitch in tears following a deserved red card for a ‘leg breaker’ on St Johnstone’s Benjamin Kimpioka.
Now, the hangover from Hagi’s devastating return to the Rangers fold is set to have a lasting impact with the Romanian midfielder now preparing to miss the club’s next three matches.
How long will Ianis Hagi be out for Rangers?
Just as Ianis Hagi got his break at Rangers, the Romanian midfielder faces three games on the sidelines.
After David Dickinson upgraded Hagi’s yellow card to a red card following an intervention from VAR, the playmaker received an automatic two-match ban.
That means Hagi will miss the Scottish Premiership trip to Rugby Park (20/10) after the international break and the clash with St Mirren at Ibrox (27/10).
But with Ianis Hagi also not registered in Rangers’ Europa League squad this season, the attacking midfielder will also miss the Europa League clash with FCSB at Ibrox.
It means that Hagi will next be available to play for Rangers against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (30/10), a clash which is looming large in the Scottish Premiership calendar.
Ianis Hagi’s Rangers journey hits fresh roadblock
It’s certainly not been easy for Ianis Hagi over the last few years at Rangers.
On a promising trajectory at Ibrox, Hagi was cut down in his prime with a devastating cruciate ligament injury in January 2022.
Missing the Europa League Final as a result, Hagi worked his way back to fitness and eventually made his return towards the end of the 22/23 season.
Determined to play, Hagi went public with his demands for minutes and Michael Beale farmed the Romanian playmaker out on loan to Alaves.
It never happened for the attacking midfielder in La Liga and after playing at Euro 2024, Hagi returned to Rangers this summer with the initial plan to strike a deal elsewhere.
But when a suitable move wasn’t forthcoming, Rangers struck a deal to reintegrate Hagi into the first-team with the midfielder re-negotiating a pay-rise in his contract.
This is after the midfielder spent time playing and training with the Rangers B team.
Rangers’ hands were tied with Hagi set to initiate a substantial pay-rise upon his 100th game for the club, which unfortunately ended in tears against St Johnstone.
