Ianis Hagi believes that he can finally end his Rangers injury nightmare by returning to full match fitness in around three weeks' time - which would leave him able to return for the League Cup final against Celtic at Hampden Park.
The Romanian international picked up a horrible injury over a year ago in a Scottish Cup tie against Stirling Albion to leave Giovanni van Bronckhorst scrambling for a midfield addition and ruing the loss of the Romanian superstar. It took over a year for Hagi to return to the playing field for the first team, and that came in the 3-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend to a rapturous Ibrox applause.
He hasn't played since but was on the bench against Ross County and he reckons it will be three-to-four weeks before he is back to full fitness. And, with Rangers set to take on bitter rivals Celtic at Hampden Park in the Viaplay Cup final on February 28, Hagi is plotting a romantic return to help his side seal silverware.
He said: "For me to play 90 minutes? I would say in three or four weeks. But of course, it doesn't just depend on me, I have to be called to do it.
"I have to show I can play well. I feel fine physically and mentally as well. Now I'm trying to play as many minutes as possible and get ready as quickly as I can. I don't feel old, but I feel experienced compared to Alex Pitu for example, who has just signed for Bordeaux. I have my whole career ahead of me, I hope to play another 15 years at least.
And Hagi, in an interview on Romanian TV, is desperate to help his country reach Euro 2024 and he's set to make his international comeback next month when Romania start their qualifying campaign with a double-header against Andorra and Belarus.
He said: "It's always going to be hard, but we could have had a France or a Germany in our group. Instead, we have Switzerland. If we want to qualify for Euro 2024. we have to suffer, believe in ourselves and have courage. But I know we have enough talent in the squad to make it."
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