Uncapped Scot Ryan Hardie sets sights on Man Utd after netting winner against Liverpool in FA Cup
Ryan Hardie's goal knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup - and he now has his sights set on Manchester United.
The 27-year-old, who played 30 times for Scotland's youth international sides scoring nine times, has yet to be called up by Steve Clarke - but might've put himself in the gaffer's window with his penalty winner against Arne Slot's runaway Premier League leaders. Hardie started his career at Rangers, but found gametime limited and - after loan spells with Raith Rovers, St Mirren and Livingston - moved south to Blackpool before joining current side Plymouth Argyle in 2019.
Since the move to the south coast the Stranraer-born forward has been a revelation, scoring over 60 times in more than 250 games - but none will have felt quite as special as the winner against the eight time winners, who have been almost unstoppable so far this season.
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And speaking after the game, he revealed he knows exactly who he wants to welcome to Home Park in the next round. He said: “I want Manchester United. Bring them here. This day will be cemented in this club’s history, in this city’s history. It’s something we will never forget. When you start your career these are the days you dream of.
The victory was a moment of salvation for Hardie, who missed an extra time penalty at Chelsea three years ago to take a fourth round tie to a shoot-out, and he admitted that moment was on his mind, but was determined to right those wrongs. He added: "He said: “I did think about the Chelsea penalty. I was thinking: ‘what happens if the same things happens again?’ But I wanted to take this one and get it off my back. I’m more than happy with that. It’s a great day for the club and all the fans.”
Hardie was said to be close to a call-up 12 months ago, with then boss Ian Foster saying: "He's a proud Scotsman and it would mean the world to him to represent his country, and we hope he does get the opportunity as an Argyle player to do that. It'd be great for him, it'd be great for us, it'd be great for his family.
"There's been contact between the SFA and ourselves around all the normal stuff that the FA tends to ask for - in terms of his physical numbers, some of his data and then some of the more personal stuff, making sure that he's got everything he needs if he was going to a tournament in the summer. He's in the mix, which is great, and that's due to him and his hard work, he's just got to continue that hard work and hopefully he gets an opportunity."
