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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Nikola Katic earns Rangers second chance as forgotten defender 'set' for fresh start under Gio van Bronckhorst

Forgotten Rangers defender Niko Katic is set to be given a chance to revive his Rangers career in pre-season, according to a report.

The towering Croatian has been working back to fitness on loan at Hajduk Split after spending more than a year on the sidelines with injury.

He was previously a first-team regular under Steven Gerrard but hasn't kicked a ball for the Rangers first time since before the pandemic in 2020.

However Football Scotland say Gio van Bronckhorst is keen to run an eye over the 25-year-old and assess him as a defensive option over the summer.

It's claimed Hajduk are unlikely to trigger his £3m option to buy but that Katic would have rejected the chance to join permanently anyway as he has his sights set on a return to Rangers.

Rangers defender Niko Katic (SNS Group)

Van Bronckhorst is likely to be short of options in the centre of defence over the summer as Connor Goldson looks set to leave while Leon Balogun's contract situation is still up in the air.

Filip Helander's injury record is unreliable and while John Souttar's arrival will ease things, having Katic back in the frame will be a useful option as Gers gear up for a crack at Champions League qualification.

Katic played 25 times for Split but didn't feature in their final three league matches and also looks set to sit out the Croatian Cup Final with Rijeka on Thursday.

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