Michael O'Halloran makes St Johnstone return on loan from Rangers

Michael O'Halloran in action for St Johnstone. Picture: SNS/Craig Foy

Former Gers boss Mark Warburton splashed out £500,000 to land the pacey wideman from Saints back in January 2016.

But he struggled to break into the Light Blues line-up and has now been allowed to rejoin Tommy Wright’s Perth set-up.

“Rangers can confirm today that Michael O’Halloran has joined St Johnstone on loan until January,” a club statement read.

In total, the former Bolton youngster made 37 appearances for the Glasgow giants, scoring three goals.

Warburton was first alerted to the threat O’Halloran’s direct running could cause when he helped St Johnstone knock Rangers out of the League Cup back in September 2015.

But after completing his move to Ibrox he largely found himself watching from the bench.

He did his chances of impressing new boss Pedro Caixinha no favours when he failed to report for match duty with the club’s under-20s side last April.

He was made to train with the Gers youngsters as punishment for that no-show and has not featured for Caixinha’s top team since.

But O’Halloran could be thrust back into action as early as Saturday afternoon after Wright confirmed he will be part of the Saints squad to face East Fife in a pre-season friendly at New Bayview.