Rangers striker Ryan Hardie has travelled with the Rangers squad to their training camp in Tenerife, appearing to smash any hope Livingston had of extending his loan.
The 21-year-old will now be an option for Gerrard going into the second half of the season. Provided Rangers don’t arrange another loan before February.
Livingston Manager Gary Holt had expressed his desire to keep Hardie at the Tony Macaroni. But the Livi boss was consigned to that being at Rangers behest. Hardie was on form at Livingston and had struck five in seven this year.
Whilst there was talk of a loan extension, Steven Gerrard seems to have made his mind up and Hardie will join the squad in Spain.
Will Hardie still be here come February?
It’s unlikely Gerrard would be keeping him around if he didn’t plan on using him. Rangers have been very thin up top for the first half of the year. The Ibrox side have relied heavily on the goals of Alfredo Morelos.
Ryan Hardie would join marquee signing Jermain Defoe as much needed added options up front. Including Morelos and Kyle Lafferty, Rangers will have four striking options next year.
The striker is also a product of Rangers youth system, and the fans are eager to see what he can offer the side. Academy graduates like Craig Halkett and Liam Kelly, both at Livingston coincidentally, left Ibrox on frees and are impressing in the Scottish Premiership.
But is he likely to get the game time he needs to develop at Ibrox? He could yet leave on loan for another side this month.
Perhaps as a makeweight for bringing forward certain pre-contract deals?
