Ianis Hagi's dad Gheorghe has praised his boy for recovering from a 'difficult' year at Rangers.

The legendary football figure believes his son is better for it.

The 25-year-old scored the goal to send Romania to Euro 2024 at the weekend as they defeated Israel in dramatic circumstances.

Hagi is currently on loan with La Liga side Alaves after Michael Beale decided to send him out on loan during the summer.

The playmaker suffered a tough time at Ibrox in the months before his temporary exit, having worked his way back to fitness after a full year out with a knee injury.

He fell down the pecking order after the additions of Sam Lammers and Todd Cantwell in recent transfer windows.

Now, Gheorghe - who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid - believes his son's injury worries are behind him.

The 58-year-old told Pro Sport: "I'm happy for Ianis because he went through a very difficult year. To come back after 12 months of injuries... he worked very hard. He's on the right track.

"From a physical point of view, he looks good and we are happy that he is on the field. That's what we want, for him to be healthy. Then, we know what he's capable of doing."

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Meanwhile, of the myriad criticisms that are levelled at Ross Wilson's tenure as sporting director at Rangers, perhaps the most valid is his failure to put quality young Scots at the centre of the football department's transfer strategy.

After all, there has barely been a successful time in history when the notion the club shops locally first and foremost, hasn't been front and centre in their market thinking.

Across two tenures Walter Smith, who undoubtedly set the benchmark for modern Ibrox managers in his second spell, made sure to fill the team with men who made cliches flesh. Bleed for the jersey? Check. Understand the remorseless win-or-die culture? Check. Able to perform in a physically unforgiving league? Check.

In contrast, throughout Wilson's time, only Scott Wright can be identified as a young Scottish signing of note. That record would be less egregious if the ones that got away were not excelling just a few short years on.