Steven Gerrard has dropped a huge hint about Ryan Hardie

Steven Gerrard has admitted Ryan Hardie’s return is possibly only temporary and his intention for the Tenerife camp is simply to look at the striker and give him a fair chance before deciding whether or not he will go out on loan again.

In news that Livi’s Gary Holt will be delighted at, Gerrard has revealed the decision for Hardie to go out on loan last summer was made before his own appointment so he honoured the move instead of disrupting it, but has now admitted he may send him back out himself anyway.

He said:

“Ryan is here because I want to see up close and personal. He was promised a loan move when I arrived at the club and injured so I haven’t had a chance to see him. I’ve been very impressed with him at Livingston and he’s obviously our player so it makes sense for me to see him closely for a full week and sit down and have a chat with him to see where his head is at. I won’t keep him here just to be a squad player. I understand he’s a young player and we need to develop him so don’t be surprised if you see him go out on loan again but we do see a future for him here at Rangers.”

So as Ibrox Noise postulated yesterday, Hardie may have been recalled but it doesn’t mean he’s staying any more than it did last summer.

We do wonder what Gerrard will make of a player who scored five in seven for Livi, and if he does go back out on loan, where to.

We also suspect a decision on Hardie is dependent on Alfredo Morelos’ future. Certain to be subject of intense interest this window again, Gerrard will want to safeguard the striking berth by covering for Morelos’ exit, should it happen. Hardie could well have a role to play at Ibrox sooner than we think.

We shall see.