Nicolas Raskin has made his return to the Rangers first team after being left out of the squad for three matches, following the heavy 6-0 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge. Manager Russell Martin had frozen the Belgian international out, but brought him back for the recent Premier Sports Cup win over Hibernian a game in which Raskin opened the scoring and played a key role in the 2-0 victory.
According to Rangers insiders Lee McCulloch and Alex Rae, Martin’s decision to reinstate Raskin was driven by three major factors: the midfielder’s undeniable quality, pressure from fans demanding his return, and the need for unity in the squad during a critical phase of the season.
McCulloch, who has observed training sessions this season, said the issue between Raskin and Martin appears to have been resolved for the greater good of the team. “Everyone is working hard the manager, the staff, the players. With Nico back, that’s a big boost. These situations happen in football, but what matters is finding a solution and moving forward.”
He praised Raskin’s standout performance against Hibs and believes the team is stronger with him involved, calling him a player who could improve any squad when fully fit.
Meanwhile, Rae, who previously coached Raskin under Philippe Clement, believes fan pressure and Raskin’s influence on the pitch left Martin with little choice. “He’s having key moments in games,” Rae told PLZ. “The fans want him playing, and the manager knows how important he is. Whatever the relationship between them, they have to move past it for the team’s sake.”
Raskin’s return appears to have settled tensions for now and if his performance against Hibs is any indication, he could play a crucial role in getting Rangers’ season back on track.
