Playing Hardie to get

Ryan Hardie last night thanked stand-in Rangers boss Graeme Murty for giving him the crucial confidence boost he needed to save Scotland Under-21s from defeat.

The 20-year- old striker salvaged a last-minute point off the bench for Scot Gem mill’ s men against Latvia on Friday night.

And after a frustrating few months kicking his heels at Ibrox – following three loan spells in two years – he insists Murty playing him in the last two Gers wins gave him the lift he needed.

Hardie was a sub against Hearts and Patrick Thistle and said: “It has certainly given me a big boost, getting a sniff with the first team.

“That’s what you need – to play when you’re confident – and as soon as I came on the pitch on Friday I was looking to get the goal and get us back into the game.

“Murts is a big factor in me being confident and being who I am today.”

Hardie’s two spells with Raith Rovers, sandwiched around six months at St Mirren, saw him make 51 first-team appearances.

But as he entered the last year of his Ibrox deal, he revealed Pedro Caixhina blocked another chance to gain more experience.

The striker said: “I spoke to him about my options and he wanted me to stay and be part of his squad.

“Unfortunately, it never happened under Pedro but now I’m happy to be doing it under Graeme.

“This is my last season at Rangers so it’s about trying to make an impact and play for a contract.”

A win over Ukraine on Tuesday at McDiarmid Park will put Scotland two points clear of Holland in second place behind Group Four leaders England at the halfway stage.

Hardie said: “We’ve got seven points out of 12 so far and at the start we’d have taken that.”