Marc Fitzpatrick reckons Jake Hastie would face a ‘mentally challenging’ return to Motherwell amid links with a loan return from Rangers.
The 21-year-old left the Steelmen in favour of a switch to Ibrox after a thrilling six-month spell in the claret and amber last year led to a pre-contract deal with the Glasgow giants.
However, since the switch the forward has found first-team opportunities limited and spent time on loan at Rotherham in English League One.
Now the winger is being touted for a return to Lanarkshire, but former ‘Well favourite Fitzpatrick reckons the move won't delight all of the Fir Park faithful.
The retired left-back, who also coached Hastie while he was on loan at Airdrie, believes some fans might still be unhappy about the manner of his departure less than a year ago.
He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “Going back might be a bit more difficult; I don’t know how well some of the fans will take to it.
“It might be good for his character to come back and try to prove them wrong a wee bit.
“I do think it would be mentally challenging for him to go back as well as on the park.
“Some fans maybe thought that because Motherwell gave Jake his chance during that six months where he really hit the ground running that he owed them something. That’s always a fans view.
“At the end of the day his contract hadn’t been extended and he went on to have that explosive six month period. When one of the big two come knocking it can be tough to knock them back.
“Some fans won’t see it like that, but clubs can also turn their back on players.
“It will be a challenge but I think it will be a mixed bag if he does come back.”
Having seen Hastie progress at New Broomfield in League One, Fitzpatrick does believe the forward would add an x-factor to Stephen Robinson’s side if a deal can be struck.
“He obviously had talent,” he continued. “Some games he ripped it up and some games he was a bit quiet.
“Where we were at Airdrie at that time we weren’t as stable as what we could have been as a club, and had a very young side, so it was difficult for him.
“I would have thought his time at Airdrie would have done him well for the rest of his career. You could see the talent and his attitude was brilliant.
“If you are playing football with Jake’s talent it benefits all parties. If he goes to Motherwell on loan and recaptures some of that form it could be a benefit for Rangers.
“It’s difficult to break in at Rangers with a big squad. He’s a young guy, and Motherwell are looking for wide players, and I think it would be a huge benefit for everyone.
“Jake will know a lot of the boys already and Motherwell will be needing numbers soon.
“Europe is a big deal for them and Stephen Robinson will be wanting to get his squad together pretty sharp.”
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