Glasgow Rangers youngster Ryan Hardie shone in the Ibrox side’s under-20s win.
With Eduardo Herrera still struggling to prove himself for Rangers, the last thing the Mexican needed was for one of his rivals to put on a masterclass for the Gers’ under-20 side – but that is exactly what Ryan Hardie did against their St Mirren counterparts this week.
The 20-year-old was in brilliant form, scoring a hat-trick and setting up the other two goals as the Light Blues won a pulsating game 5-4 against the side he enjoyed a loan spell with back in 2016.
Hardie has been a regular fixture in the first-team matchday squad since Graeme Murty took caretaker charge for a second time, but has had to rely on brief substitute appearances when he has got out onto the pitch for the side.
And while his chances of earning more minutes will not have been helped by Alfredo Morelos scoring what turned out to be the winner during Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash with Hibernian on Wednesday, his performance for the youth side would have surely sent a great message to Graeme Murty.
When Herrera came on at Easter Road, he did not offer too much at all and looked extremely rusty. His experience may mean that it is a gamble to overlook him for Hardie this weekend, but the latter’s form for the under-20s is undeniable.
And with a number of academy graduates getting their first-team chance lately, perhaps Murty should now reward Hardie by bringing him back into the matchday squad for the first time since the emphatic victory over Aberdeen at Ibrox at the end of last month.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
