Rangers loanee Jake Hastie finally made his first senior start of the season on Tuesday night and he helped send Linfield top of the NIFL Premiership.
Hastie has had a nightmare campaign to date, most of which was spent out on loan at Partick Thistle.
He joined the Jags in mid-August after featuring for the Gers in pre-season, but he wasn’t able to force his way into Ian McCall’s team.
He made just six substitute appearances for the Maryhill outfit in the Championship, playing a total of 114 minutes before returning to Rangers early in the January transfer window.
In late January, Hastie headed out for what is his fourth loan spell away from the club, signing for Northern Irish champions Linfield until the end of the season.
He made his debut off the bench in an Irish Cup defeat at Larne on Friday and his first start came on Tuesday night in a league match against the same opposition.
Rangers loanee Hastie impresses on first Linfield start
The winger played 75 minutes before being substituted for fellow Rangers loanee Chris McKee and he impressed on his home debut.
Hastie played a big part in the second goal, scored by former Motherwell striker Christy Manzinga, as Linfield triumphed 2-1.
The Gers loanee’s corner flashed past several players in the box before Manzinga finished at the back post.
The three points took Linfield back to the top of the table ahead of fellow Belfast club and fierce rivals Glentoran on goal difference, as the Glens could only draw at Portadown.
Hastie will be hoping that this was the first of many starts between now and the end of the season, as he’s been desperately short of playing time for several years now.
Meanwhile, Schalke’s sporting director has provided an update on Rangers-linked Martin Fraisl.
