The Scottish Sun have reported that Rangers are set to put new signing Jake Hastie out on loan for the 2019/20 season.
The winger joined the Ibrox club after a short but fruitful stint in the Motherwell first team. To say he didn’t leave on great terms with the Fir Park faithful would be an understatement.
Surely a Motherwell loan deal for him is out of the question, right?
Hastie to Motherwell does make sense in some respects
All the arguments fans made, or at least some of them, for Hastie staying in Motherwell could be used here. He’d get regular game time, playing in a position he’s comfortable with, and he’d be alongside teammates he knows very well.
If Steven Gerrard does want to loan him out though, has Hastie already burnt his bridges with the Fir Park club? He certainly has with a large part of the fan base, with fans heckling him during their away clash at St Johnstone.
You only have to look to social media comments also to see what some Motherwell fans think of him. Some Well fans though were understanding of his situation, taking the view that he’d taken an opportunity that will change his life.
The way he left though wasn’t great, especially when there is so much resentment towards the team he joined from within the Fir Park faithful. From a playing point of view though, it makes sense.
What his critics can’t take away from him is how good he was in that 10 game or so spell. Defences couldn’t handle his direct style, his pace and accurate shooting ability, making him a feared attacking outlet.
Him and David Turnbull were key factors in easing any relegation worries, even pushing a late Well charge for the top six. Stephen Robinson is a big fan of Hastie and would have loved to have kept him at Fir Park.
Hastie obviously needs minutes and he’d get them at Fir Park. If Rangers are making him available, expect interest from England. It does seem though like a Motherwell return is the most logical one from a playing point of view.
If he were to return to North Lanarkshire one thing is certain. He’ll never be able to win over sections of the Fir Park support.