Moment Rangers star Ianis Hagi tears up as he celebrates first goal in 16 months after injury hell

IANIS HAGI went 488 days without scoring a goal.

In between there was pain, suffering and a whole of waiting.

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Ianis Hagi scores his first goal in 16 monthsCredit: PA

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He was visibly emotional at the strikeCredit: PA

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He teared up after celebratingCredit: PA

Then today, the Rangers star allowed his emotions to release as he enjoyed the moment he’d been waiting for all that time.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder scored the second of his side’s three goals in the 3-1 win over Hibs.

It was clearly an overwhelming moment for the player, as he sunk to his knees after wheeling away in ecstasy as he celebrated his 55th minute strike.

The Romanian drifted into the box to catch Fashion Sakala’s headed knock down from John Lundstram’s lofted ball, and he duly finished with aplomb.

His first attempt, with his right foot, was blocked by Paul Hanlon but he was alert to drill in the rebound.

He ran away and was mobbed by his teammates as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

As he celebrated, Hagi was seen tearing up as the emotions took over, banging his chest with the palm of his hand as he gestured towards the thousands of jubilant travelling Light Blues supporters.

Rangers boss Michael Beale said he reserved his “biggest smile of the day” for Hagi at that moment.

Beale told Sky Sports: “The biggest smile of the day was for Ianis because it’s his first goal in what, 15, 16 months after a terrible time.

“I’m really pleased for him, you can see that he’s got real high quality but he’s also still finding his feet again after the injury and that will really help him.

“He was a real key player for us the year we won the league and like one or two others he’s been robbed from the team for over a year.

“He’s come back in, it’s not been plain sailing, he’s trying to fight to get back in our team and to get back into the national team as well and there’s been a lot of mentally tough days.

“I’m please for him and a word has to go to the rehab and physio staff that have been alongside him.”

Elsewhere, Connor Goldson’s season is over as Beale confirmed the defender picked up an injury last week against Celtic that will force him to miss around ten weeks.

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