If his performances for Scotland at Toulon are anything to go by, Ryan Hardie could follow David Bates and Myles Beerman into Rangers’ first-team.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has made clear that if you are good enough you’re old enough at Ibrox.
And though the manager has shown a little naivety in throwing the club’s talented starlets in at the deep end, handing 18-year-old left-back Myles Beerman only his fourth senior appearance at Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final, the club’s Auchenhowie kids can be hopeful of being given a chance with Caixinha at the helm.
So far, Beerman, David Bates and Aiden Wilson have been handed their first-team debuts since the Portuguese manager took over from Mark Warburton in March. And it’s a source of debate amongst intrigued supporters as to who will be the next fresh-faced fad off the Ibrox production line.
Myles Beerman has now made six starts in Rangers’ colours
Though 20-year-old striker Ryan Hardie has not done his chances any harm in the last few weeks. The Stranraer-born goalscorer, a boyhood Rangers fan, led the way as Scotland finished an impressive third at the illustrious Toulon Tournament.
In fact, Hardie netted the first as Scot Gemmill’s cruised past the Czech Republic 3-0 in the third-place play-off, his third goal of the tournament a beautiful curling finish into the far corner.
Rangers supporters have followed Hardie’s progression with wide-eyed wonderment in the last few weeks. And his stand-out performances will surely have caught the eye of his manager too.
Rangers’ Ryan Hardie has played six league games for the club
Netting eight goals in 22 appearances on loan at Raith Rovers from January to May, Hardie’s 2017 just keeps on getting better.
And, who knows, perhaps he’ll cap it by forcing his way into the Rangers’ first-team next season.
The club may be on the verge of paying £1.5 million for Mexican international striker Eduardo Herrera, via the Daily Record, after scoring 50 fewer goals than Celtic in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Eduardo Herrera
But perhaps Hardie is the answer sitting right under Rangers’ nose.
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