Rangers boss Michael Beale claims Ianis Hagi should be available for selection come mid-to-late January and has backed the Romanian to be a key player for the side after a long term injury.
The Gers have been without the influential playmaker ever since he tore his ACL in a routine Scottish Cup victory over Stirling Albion at Ibrox last season.
Now in the final stage of his recovery, Ianis Hagi is back in training and back working with the ball as he steps up a potential Rangers return.
But whilst the images of Hagi being back in training are certainly exciting for supporters, the player is still not quite ready to return to squad training let alone the professional football field.
Rangers star Ianis Hagi back to be key player after injury
Giving a timeline of the player’s return from injury, Michael Beale expects Hagi to be a top player for the side in the months ahead and has backed him up to be a difference maker for Rangers.
“He’ll play a big role when he’s fit,” said Beale [Rangers].
He’s a player I have a lot of belief in. I think he’s a very good player in this league. I would say mid to backend of January.
He’s in light training with the group unopposed at the moment doing a lot of work in solitude in terms of building his fitness.
“He’s been a year out, there’s a lot of muscle loss and things like that that he has to go through returning. We’re just delighted.
“It’s great for the group that he’s out there, he’s very well-liked and if we can get him back towards the backend of January/beginning of February we’ll be delighted because he’ll be available for the last 15 to 18 games of the season.”
The comments also come after Rangers signed a new deal with Ianis Hagi that reportedly sees the player committing to the club until 2026.
It shows the level of belief the club have in Ianis Hagi following the injury and suggests that everyone involved at Ranges believes the player can get back to and surpass the level he was at previously.
Ianis Hagi isn’t the only player Rangers expect to return from injury or absence in the weeks ahead either.