'Confident' Scotland hopeful continues hot streak in huge win as ex-Rangers man joins in rout

The 27-year-old had gone four months without a goal for the Pilgrims prior to the arrival of new head coach Miron Muslic, but now finds himself with five goals in his last three games, as he attempts to catch the eye of Scotland manager Clarke ahead of next month’s Nations League playoff against Greece.

Fresh from his winning penalty against English Premier League leaders Liverpool in the FA Cup, the ex-Rangers academy product helped lift Plymouth off the foot of the table for the first time since December after to a blistering start saw them go 2-0 up in the first ten minutes via a Joe Bryan own goal and a Hardie penalty.

Things would get even better for the Pilgrims early in the second-half when Mustapha Bundu added a third, before Stranraer born Hardie chased down a loose ball and chipped delightfully over Lukas Jensen in the Millwall net to score his second, and add to their advantage before the hour mark.

Plymouth’s third win in four games until their new Bosnian head coach, there was even time for ex-Rangers favourite Niko Katic to bag his first goal for the club, when he scrambled home on the line in the 86th minute to seal the club’s biggest win of the season. The centre-back joined on loan from FC Zurich on deadline day, and has made a big impression on Pilgrims fans after being named man of the match in Sunday’s memorable giant-killing 1-0 win over Liverpool.

Transformed under Muslic, Hardie’s new boss revealed the reason behind his recent surge in form, saying: “This is when you have the momentum on your side. You have a team full of energy, full of confidence, and you have a striker [Hardie] full of energy and full of confidence. Confidence is a big, big part in our business, and I think he did it today fantastic, supported by an outstanding Cal [Callum Wright] and a very strong Mussa [Bundu]. This trio is difficult to defend because they have different profiles and that's why I pick them."

Hardie, who has been capped by Scotland at every levels apart from the senior team, has been mentioned as a potential contender for the main striker role with the Tartan Army after scoring a total of 69 goals in the last four-and-half seasons at Home Park.