Ianis Hagi tipped for crucial Rangers role after another starring show for Romania

Former Rangers forward Greg Stewart wants to see Ianis Hagi get more minutes as he continues his return from a lengthy Ibrox absence.

The Romanian international missed just over a year from of playing time for the Light Blues after a horror knee injury and then spent an extended period of time knocking around the youth sides and B team due to a contract issue, following his loan to Alaves last season. However, that’s all behind him now and his return to match sharpness is progressing nicely.

He bagged an assist for his country against Cyprus on Monday evening and was unlucky to have a goal awarded to his teammate who turned in his strike at goal from close range. Now, his former Ibrox teammate Stewart has tipped him to bring crucial attacking contributions to the side once again as he plots a route into Philippe Clement’s starting line-up on a consistent basis.

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The Belgian manager was criticised by some of the club’s fans recently when he opted to introduce more defensive-minded substitutes to the game against Hearts, and not the technically gifted attacking midfielder. “I know what Ianis can do, I know what he brings to the table. OK, with his lack of games lately, maybe he's still not up to full sharpness,” Stewart told the Daily Record.

“You saw that in the St Johnstone game when he was sent off. I think he got too excited because it was his first game back and got carried away with the tackle but he has that bit of magic. When he’s fit, his numbers are good. He brings goals and assists to the table.

"I know people wanted to see him come on against Hearts. But what Clement did, trying to shore things up, that’s what Rangers did many a time under Walter Smith. Okay, it wasn't pretty, but you win 1-0, you scrape by after a European game against Olympiacos.

“It's always difficult when you've travelled abroad and sometimes your performance is not important, it's about getting the result. We managed to do that, but we just need to go on a run now. And yeah, I’d like to see Ianis get a run in the team too.”

Hagi will always be remembered by Gers fans for his contribution to the side’s dramatic comeback against Braga in the Europa League, and Stewart says his former teammate showed what he can offer to Rangers that night.

“Aye, that was some buzz when we came back to win,” added Stewart. “We were 2-0 down but Hagi scored a beauty to get us back in it. I remember the gaffer put Joe Aribo to left-back but the big man scored an absolute worldie dancing through their defence to bring us level. Then Ianis scored with a deflected free-kick and the place just erupted.

“That was probably one of my best nights I experienced as a Rangers player. Everyone was going crazy. It was a top, top night. Ianis had his dad there watching. He’d just joined and people were keen to see what he could do - he certainly showed that night.”