Rangers loanee Ryan Hardie, turned 22 over the weekend.
That’s the same age as current Ibrox talisman, Alfredo Morelos.
Yet, the two are experiencing contrasting fortunes of late. While Morelos is being touted as a target for teams across Europe, Hardie is struggling to get a start at Livingston.
It’s been a strange old season for the front man.
A serious injury ensured he only had one substitute appearance to his name before the beginning of December.
However, when he returned, it was with a bang.
He netted five in five starts that month, and
MORE RANGERS STORIES
A brace in a 5-0 hammering of Hearts looked to be a coming of age moment.
Since signing a new contract at Rangers and extending his loan spell at Livi, though, the goals have dried up.
He’s yet to score in 2019 and has lost what had looked to be a guaranteed starting spot under Gary Holt.
Time is running out now and he needs to prove his worth to Steven Gerrard.
Hardie has the security of another season under contract at Rangers, but beyond that, his future is uncertain.
Unless he starts to find the net between now and the end of the season, no one could blame the Gers manager from seeking out striker reinforcements during the summer window.
If another new face were to come in with Morelos, Jermain Defoe and Kyle Lafferty already at the club, Hardie would face stiff competition to even get into match day squads.
He has eight matches left with Livi – time to start making them count.
