Glasgow Rangers forward Kenny Miller is set to be sidelined for a significant period, which perhaps provide a boost for an Ibrox teammate.
While Miller has not been at his best this season, and there were a number of fans who do not feel that the team’s fortunes will suffer too much from the veteran’s absence, it is still likely to be a blow for Graeme Murty given the experience that the forward brings to the team.
But perhaps it could prove to be the break that one Gers youngster needs to prove that he deserves to be rewarded with a new contract at Ibrox.
Ryan Hardie is arguably one of the most exciting prospects coming through right now, regularly scoring for the under-20 side and earning the occasional opportunity for the first-team.
According to BBC Sport, he is out of contract at the end of the season, and you get the impression that he may need to start showing more in the senior side if he is to earn a new deal as little more could be asked of him in terms of his displays for the development side.
If that is indeed the case, Miller’s prolonged spell on the sidelines may be exactly what the 20-year-old needs as he automatically moves up the pecking order, and that may make it more likely that he will get more chances to prove that he deserves to be a more regular fixture in the first-team and does deserve that new contract.
With Hardie’s clear eye for goal, it may just take one moment for the youngster to ensure that he has cemented himself in a higher position in the pecking order than he was in before Miller got injured – and perhaps that may enable the forward to get the chances he needs to prove that he does deserve a new contract.
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