Ibrox View: Motherwell loan could be just what Hastie needs to kickstart Rangers career
Jake Hastie hasn’t had the best start to life at Rangers.
The wide man arrived on a free transfer from Motherwell last summer, but has made just two appearances for the Gers and spent the first half of this season out on loan with League One Rotherham United.
What started as a really promising loan move soon dissipated into a prolonged spell on the bench, however, and his early recall back to Ibrox in January did little to alleviate that issue either.
But the hope will be that he can kickstart his stalling career with another spell at his boyhood club.
It was confirmed on Friday that the 22-year-old will be spending next season on loan with Motherwell – and we’re very much in favour of the idea.
During his breakout season at Fir Park, he had a higher pass completion rate than this term, a higher shot accuracy rate, and a higher goals per game rate – despite having an identical xG of 0.17, as per Wyscout.
And if he can recapture that sharper lethal streak, it can only be a good thing for us Gers.
Deep down inside, we all know he has it in him.
Take his last goal for Motherwell as an example.
The strike came against Aberdeen last year.
As soon as the ball is played from deep, Hastie is on the shoulder of the last man and looking to break the line.
The pass is fizzed in, but Hastie’s first touch perfectly brings the ball under his spell.
His pace takes him clear of the defender, and he is one-on0one with the keeper.
To be fair, at this stage there is still a lot left to do.
But rather than panicking, Hastie produces a deft touch and a wonderful feint to take the ball round the keeper and leave himself with an open goal.
It really is top class stuff, combining pace, precision, and directness.
This is the player we thought we were getting last summer – here’s hoping that with regular game time in a familiar environment, Hastie can start to reach this level again.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Alex Bruce claims Ryan Kent can be ‘big asset’ for Gers in ‘huge’ 20/21.