Ryan Hardie will return to parent club Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers.
Ryan Hardie has revealed to The Record that he plans on returning to Rangers this summer – and staying for the long term.
The 22-year-old striker left Rangers to re-join Livingston for a second loan spell in January, after signing a one-year extension in Glasgow.
Hardie, who’s under contract until 2020, has netted seven goals in 12 Premiership starts during his spell at the Tony Macaroni Arena, but is it good enough to stay with Steven Gerrard’s side next term?
Gerrard currently boasts a number of star strikers including Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos, but the youngster, who came through the Gers’ Auchenhowie academy, is determined to prove his worth next season.
He told The Record: “My aim is now to go back to Rangers and hopefully challenge for a regular first-team place. I want to keep continuing my education and I feel I have gained some invaluable first-team experience with Livingston.
“It is all fine and well going back to Ibrox and training alongside Defoe, Morelos and Lafferty. But ultimately I want to compete with them for a regular starting slot for Rangers.
“It is just about taking that chance if it comes my way as I want to score more goals for Rangers. It is time for me to start fighting for a regular place in the first team.”
Hardie certainly has the desire and the ambition, but will it be enough? He is a similar striker to Morelos and Defoe, which means that if the Colombian stays at Ibrox then it could be bad news for the young Scot.
If Rangers sign a striker this summer it’ll probably be as a replacement for 6’4 Kyle Lafferty, who hasn’t done the business since returning to Glasgow in August.
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