GHEORGHE HAGI insists son Ianis is progressing well in his recovery from his serious knee injury after Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed he will be out for the rest of the year.

The Romanian starlet underwent a knee operation after suffering the injury in a Scottish Cup win against Stirling Albion last January.

Ibrox boss van Bronckhorst revealed this week he didn't expect to see Hagi back before the end of the year. 

He said: "It's a very complicated injury, he won't be able to return before the break for the World Cup."

And the former Real Madrid and Barcelona star insisted his son's timescale for a return isn't a surprise to him.

He said: "All of the media in Romania were in a hurry and said that he will return in August or September. That he will play for the national team in September, no problem.

"The truth is he will return when he is 100% ready.

"It was not easy at all for him. He had a pretty serious injury.

"But things are going very well at the moment and when there is an opportunity for him to get back playing he will get back playing.

"We will just have to see when it will be. I can't put a date on his return."