Lions’ loan Ranger roars back to life after injury woes
TWO ankle operations, numerous infections and a torn muscle in his thigh. Ryan Hardie’s progress in the past eight months has largely been measured by medical procedures rather than goals.
Mercifully, that changed on Saturday when the Livingston striker lashed a ferocious drive into the roof of the net against St Mirren. It was his maiden Premiership goal in his first start at this level, but he may never score a more cathartic one.
The 21-year-old, on a season-long loan from Rangers, scored eight times in 17 games during his initial stint with the Lions last term but was sidelined for their Championship playoff campaign when a slight ankle strain turned out to be altogether more serious than first thought.
After undergoing surgery, he defied the doctors to attend the triumph over Partick Thistle that secured Livi’s Premiership place before signing on for another spell in West Lothian.
However, a series of further setbacks – some related to his initial injury, others independent of it – have restricted him to a largely watching brief, making just two cameos from the bench prior to the visit of the Buddies.
“I initially snapped the muscle in my ankle that holds the tendons in place,” he recalled. “I had to get that operated on. It was so frustrating.
“The whole season was building up towards the playoffs and gaining promotion – so not making the play-offs was hard. But it was good to be watching the boys as they gained promotion.
“I was on crutches and it was against the doctor’s orders but it was an occasion I was not going to miss!
“Then it kept getting infected so, when I tore a muscle in my thigh, it was the right time to get my ankle operated on again; get everything sorted at the same time. So they opened up my ankle and now it’s better and I’m back fit.”
However, Hardie does not appear to have lost a beat. In the starting line-up for the first time since April, he was cool and clinical when a loose ball dropped in his path at point-blank range. Rather than snatch at the opportunity, he took a touch and picked his spot to give Livingston a 2-1 lead.
“It was a sweet moment,” smiled Hardie. “My dad, my brother, my girlfriend and my cousin were all there to watch me today and, after so long out, it feels great. I have got my first goal in the Premiership on my first start and I hope it’s the first of many.
“There’s no better time to come back than when the games are coming thick and fast like they are in