MANAGER GIVES HAGI HOPE FOR MALMO TIE

RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard has backed his medical staff to work their magic and give Ianis Hagi every chance of starting against Malmo in the Champions League qualifiers.

The Romanian scored an early opener in yesterday’s 3-0 home league win over Livingston, but was the victim of a crunching 13th-minute foul from Adam

Lewis and taken off on half-an-hour — with his replacement Scott Wright scoring late on and paving the way for fellow sub Kemar Roofe to complete the victory.

Rangers already have striker Alfredo Morelos in quarantine and Roofe suspended for Tuesday’s clash in Sweden, but Gerrard is optimistic that Hagi will be ready.

Asked if the 22-year-old would miss out, he replied: ‘Potentially, but we have got good physios here and we have got good doctors, so, hopefully, they can pull a rabbit out the hat for Tuesday because he is going to be important for us.

‘He scored the goal to get us up and running and, hopefully, the kick is not too serious.

‘He is a bit sore now, but it shouldn’t keep him out too long.’

Wright, however, has made it clear that he is eager to stay in the team after getting on the scoresheet in the 78th minute.

‘I want the shirt and I am here to try and hopefully get the shirt,’ he said. ‘I feel I am playing some of my best football right now and that is credit to my team-mates for getting me on the ball.’

Rangers did struggle without Hagi’s influence, though, with Gerrard admitting they lost their intensity and drive a little after taking the lead in the wake of a thunderous start to the game.

‘From the first whistle until we went 1-0 up, we were terrific,’ he said. ‘We played with a real urgency and intensity that Livingston were struggling to cope with. Then, I thought our mentality changed from 1-0.

‘We complicated the game a little bit. Everyone was taking that extra touch and slowed it down a little bit and it gave Livingston a chance to breathe.

‘From 2-0 until seeing the game out, I thought we were fantastic.’

Livi boss David Martindale was left to curse the cheap concession of the opening goal from a setpiece which saw James Penrice leave Hagi unmarked.

‘It took us about 15 minutes to get to grips with their shape and I am disappointed with the goal as it came from a set-play we have got to defend better.

‘Rangers definitely deserved to win the game, but 3-0 flattered them slightly, if I am honest.’