Joe Roberts

Thu 17 August 2023 6:40, UK

Barry Ferguson has claimed that Nicolas Raskin has the attributes to become Rangers club captain in the future but worries that he could depart Ibrox if he keeps up his “very good performances”.

Speaking live on The Go Radio Football Show (15 August), the former Rangers midfielder said he believes Raskin has been one of the Gers’ top performers, citing his progressive ability and aggression as key strengths.

While many have questioned current captain James Tavernier’s performance in the role, Ferguson claims that he is unlikely to lose the armband any time soon.

Speaking live on Go Radio, as reported by Football Scotland, Ferguson said: “Sometimes when you’ve got that armband, the fans have a go at you more often than not. I’ve got to be honest, Tavernier does well for me. When he’s having difficult games or difficult moments within games, he generally does come up with the answer and he did that last night.

“Raskin is one of my favourites since they brought him in in January. It took him a few weeks to get up to speed which is a natural thing that happens, but I do like him.

“I think he’s a good footballer, he wants the ball all the time and takes up great angles. His first thought is always to play that ball forward and he’s got a wee bit of aggression in him as well which I like.

“In time, I think he could be [a Rangers captain]. My only worry is, if Raskin keeps producing very good performances, I think Rangers could struggle to keep a hold of him.

“[But] I don’t think it will happen. I can’t see it happening. If it was ever going to happen, it would be during the close season.”

One for the future?

Having been at Rangers since January, Raskin has cemented himself as one of the club’s top performers.

He showed this again on Tuesday night (15 August) in the Gers’ important clash against Servette, where the Belgian looked aggressive and influential as they earned their spot in the next qualification round of the Champions League.

A lot of criticism has come towards Tavernier following a poor campaign last season, but Ferguson insists his role as captain is safe despite his fondness for Raskin.

Rangers will need a strong captain this season as they look to challenge on all fronts, and has been the leader since the summer of 2018, so it feels unnecessary to replace him any time soon regardless of a dip in form.

The captain showed his worth in the Servette clash scoring the equalising goal that secured Rangers their fourth-round tie against PSV.

But while Raskin may not become captain any time soon, having plenty of players in a squad who have the ability to be effective leaders is a bonus, but may be paramount for Rangers this season. They will need a strong mentality if they are to overcome their bumpy start to the season.

In other Rangers news, four young Ibrox stars could be set to depart before the transfer window closes.