Bardsley leaves Rangers

Full-back Phil Bardsley has cut short his loan spell at Rangers and is set for a brief return to Manchester United.

The 21-year-old, who has made 17 first-team appearances for United, was originally loaned to Rangers at the start of the season.

Bardsley was due to stay until the end of December, with the possibility of extending that deal incorporated in the original terms of the deal, but he is now poised to join Sunderland.

Despite impressing during his first few weeks with Rangers, the 21-year-old fell out with coach Paul Le Guen at the club’s training ground in October.

There was little prospect of him playing any part in Rangers’ Bank of Scotland Premier League match against St Mirren on Saturday, prompting the move to end his stay with the Glasgow giants three days early.

Bardsley made seven appearances for the Ibrox side, scoring once and receiving a red card in September’s defeat at Hibernian.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson last week confirmed that United had agreed to send Bardsley to Coca-Cola Championship side Sunderland, with Old Trafford colleague Johnny Evans another possible Roy Keane recruit at the Stadium of Light.