Nico Raskin mystery at Rangers under Philippe Clement leads to 'strange' speculation

Derek Ferguson is baffled by the "mystery" of Nico Raskin's second season at Rangers being so disappointing compared to the first.

The Belgian midfielder was one of two January signings for Michael Beale last season along with Todd Cantwell, with former Ibrox favourite Ferguson delighted by both a year ago.

But amid injury and a loss of form he has spent large swathes of the current campaign out of the side and has rarely started, opening the door to speculation as to what is behind him being stuck down the pecking order under Philippe Clement.

Ferguson thinks it is "strange" that the 23-year-old has seen more action and wonders whether the manager is unhappy with some of the player's habits off the pitch.

He said, speaking exclusively to Ibrox News: “Do you know something, it’s been strange. Because he’s been fit, I’ve seen him on the bench.

“You start to overthink it. You think well what’s he doing at training? Is he living his life away from the training ground the right way? Because the manager’s big on that. It’s not only what you do in the games and training, it’s everything. 

“So you start to question that. But it’s a real surprise because when he came in initially, him and Cantwell, they were excellent, he was excellent, he was different class. 

“I think playing in that deeper role would have suited him, so it’s a mystery why he’s not been in that side. Clearly he’s not doing something right because if he was he should be in that Rangers starting line up.” 

Can Michael Beale favourite rebound again at Rangers?

That John Lundstram has not seen his position come under threat in the centre of midfield despite an alarming dip in form of his own is a poor indictment of Raskin's reduced standing at Ibrox.

But the former Standard Liege man was brought of the bench following the exit-bound English midfielder's catastrophic showing against Celtic at the weekend and showed a few flashes of the quality he had shown last term.

The suspension for Lundstram after his sending off in the derby may have opened the door for Raskin to get a few starts to end the season, which could be his last chance to impress the manager before another transfer overhaul is embarked upon this summer, with new midfielders on the agenda.

In other Rangers news, a hugely-controversial Celtic transfer for an Ibrox ace has been suggested as the transfer window nears.

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