Ryan Hardie’s Rangers return has been widely-speculated in recent weeks, but it now looks unlikely.
The on-loan Livingston striker has been in red-hot form recently. Another goal against Aberdeen yesterday made it five goals in five games as his renaissance in West Lothian continues.
That goal-return, however, has brought perhaps irrational talk about him making an early return to Rangers in January. With Rangers still in the hunt for a third striker, it’s thought that Hardie would be a valuable asset to have in that role.
Steven Gerrard, however, has opened up on the issue. Speaking in the Scottish Sun, the Rangers manager claimed he won’t be brought back if he isn’t going to be used.
“It’s a possibility that we might we recall Ryan in January. It’s one that we’re discussing in-house at the moment but haven’t made a final decision on.
“If the decision is to bring him back, it would only be with an eye to using him for Rangers.
“What it will depend on, is if we’re able to add someone to the squad. If we do that, we’ll probably leave him where he is.”
A return for Hardie would be an admittance of failure in January
Rangers have just beaten Celtic, and are therefore in a position where momentum is riding with them. That means building on their platform created yesterday is a must in January.
Their rivals are set to gear up next month, make no mistake. Celtic will know there’s now a real challenge on their hands in Gerrard’s Rangers and will undoubtedly splash some cash.
Therefore, if Rangers’ new striker this January is Hardie, then what’s the point? Rangers need to strengthen, not bring back players who are only in the limelight because of a short purple-patch. Sure, Hardie already has more goals this season than Kyle Lafferty, for example, but that doesn’t mean he should be considered for an early return.
He’s enjoying his football and developing well in West Lothian for now. In the meantime, Rangers need to upgrade their own squad with a top striker to help push on with their title-charge in January.
Gerrard has already admitted here that bringing Hardie back would mean nobody is coming in next month. If that was the case, the title would slip from Rangers’ reach.
It’s for that reason alone, that this idea is now surely a no-go.
