Ryan Hardie on life after Rangers as he aims to join exclusive Plymouth Argyle club on major Wembley day

In Plymouth Argyle’s 137-year history, only 22 players have hit 50 goals for the club.

But Ryan Hardie is on the cusp of it. And the striker couldn’t have picked a bigger or better stage to try to bag his half century. Hardie will run out at Wembley today for the EFL Trophy Final against Bolton knowing he can write himself into

Pilgrims folklore. There’s a Scot right at the top of their all-time scorers list. Sammy Black from Motherwell – often regarded as Plymouth’s greatest player – scored 184 times in the 1920s and 30s. Hardie has a bit to go to catch him. But the former Rangers forward, who has found a home on Devon’s south coast, would love his landmark strike to come at the UK’s biggest venue.

“During our last game, I hit both posts with a shot. So I’m saving my 50th for Wembley,” he tells MailSport . If it comes, Hardie will have earned his spot in the limelight, given the journey he has been on since leaving Ibrox. Loan moves in Scotland at Raith Rovers, St Mirren and Livingston, before a move to Blackpool that turned sour.

When he joined Argyle he dropped down to League Two. But 49 goals later they’re on the brink of promotion to the Championship – with Hardie being tipped for a Scotland call-up. The EFL Trophy isn’t the Champions League. But a victory and that elusive 50th goal would be a career high for the 26-year-old.

He said: “I mean, Wembley isn’t quite Hampden but it is what it is! No, I’m joking. This is one we’ve been looking forward to for a while now. As we’ve ticked the games off, especially the semi-final, it’s a game we’ve been excited about.

“I’ve never been to Wembley, not even to watch a game. So I’m looking forward to ticking it off. The capacity is 90,000 and hopefully it will be near full,