Zak Rudden has scored seven goals in the Scottish Championship with Falkirk but will he even play in the Premiership for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers?
Zak Rudden is heading back to Rangers in a major blow to Falkirk.
The 18-year-old striker spent the first half of the season on loan with the Bairns, proving to be a rare bright spark in a difficult season for his relegation-threatened side. In 15 Scottish Championship fixtures, Rudden scored seven goals including two in a dramatic comeback victory against Inverness.
But the teenager’s loan spell has now come to an end, meaning he has returned to Ibrox.
Falkirk manager Ray McKinnon, however, has told the Herald that he is still hopeful that Rudden will spend the rest of 2018/19 in Westfield, admitting that his departure will leave a big hole in the side.
“He has been recalled but we are speaking to Rangers to see if something can be worked out,” McKinnon said.
“Of course he would be a big miss, he has done so well for us and scored eight goals, but he’s back in Glasgow now.
“As it stands he is out of Saturday’s match which is an important one for us. We’d love to extend his deal.”
It perhaps makes sense for Rudden to continue his development with Falkirk for the time being.
After all, Rangers sealed the short-term loan signing of 36-year-old Jermain Defoe from Bournemouth recently with the former England international joining Kyle Lafferty and 20-goal talisman Alfredo Morelos at Ibrox.
Then again, Rudden would surely benefit from honing his trade alongside Defoe behind the scenes as he aims to force his way into Gerrard’s plans.
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