The Rangers first team squad have got back into the swing of things this week, but there have been a number of noticeable absentees.
A Daily Record report clarified that Jordan Rossiter has been given extra time off by Steven Gerrard.
However, the absences of Eros Grezda and Joe Dodoo are hitherto unexplained.
Another player, who, judging by the video and photo gallery content uploaded by the Rangers social media team, is also missing, is Ryan Hardie.
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The 22-year-old forward spent last season on loan at Livingston. However, he returned to Ibrox during the winter break in order to pen a one-year contract extension, before heading back out on loan.
It was a patchy season for the centre-forward.
He struggled with injury over the opening months. But, he then burst onto the scene in December with five goals in five SPL games.
Thereafter, to an extent, both his goals and playing time dried up. He finished the season with seven strikes and one assist in 22 appearances [
Soccerbase].
Injury or something else?
Despite his slight drop off in form, he was still expected to return to Rangers ahead of 2019/20. After all, he is contracted until next summer.
Yet, while fellow up and coming forward Zak Rudden and five other returning loanees have been spotted at Auchenhowie, Hardie is nowhere to be seen.
There doesn’t seem to be grounds for extra time off as was granted to Rossiter. Therefore, perhaps he has picked up a knock and is instead receiving treatment.
There’s an element of mystery with this one, but let’s hope he’s back involved sooner rather than later.
He’s been with the club since 2010 and deserves a chance to stake a claim in the upcoming pre-season friendlies.
