Before the weekend, Ryan Hardie had experienced a barren 2019.
The Rangers loanee impressed many before the winter break, scoring five in five for adopted side Livingston, in December.
His performances earned him a new deal at Ibrox, but after putting pen to paper and returning to the Tony Macaroni until the end of the season, the goals dried up and he lost his place in the team.
Now, it looks as though those struggles are now behind him.
On Saturday, he scored a late penalty against Hibernian. It didn’t have any effect on the result, but it looks to have done wonders for his confidence.
Restored to the starting XI to take on Hamilton on Wednesday night, he repaid manager Gary Holt’s faith.
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Shortly after half-time, he scored the opening goal for the hosts.
Played in behind the Accies defence by Scott Robinson, he composed himself and slotted a first time shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.
It was an excellent finish and a significant goal for Livingston.
Craig Halkett added a second with ten minutes remaining and the win secured Livingston’s top-flight status for another season.
Now on 41 points, they cannot be dragged into the relegation mire.
Furthermore, in the final throes of the fixture, Hardie was announced as the sponsor’s Man of the Match, capping a fine individual display up front.
It’s great to see the 22-year-old return to form, as he seeks an opportunity to prove his worth at Ibrox next season.
