Keith Jackson picks out 'Gargantuan' Nico Raskin in Rangers defeat v Celtic

Nico Raskin embodied the fighting spirit of Rangers despite their loss to Celtic on penalties in a "spectacular" League Cup Final, Keith Jackson has said.

Writing in the Daily Record (16 December), Jackson said that Raskin and fellow midfielder Ianis Hagi have both breathed life into their Ibrox careers after spending the early weeks of the season on the sidelines.

Raskin started at the base of midfield at Hampden Park and played the full 120 minutes of the 3-3 draw before losing 5-4 on penalties, despite making an error which led to Daizen Maeda's goal putting Celtic 2-1 up in the second half.

Jackson said: "Ianis Hagi and Nico Raskin, who were having the last rights read on their Ibrox careers not so very long ago.

"Raskin may be small in stature but his contribution to this spectacular Premier Sports Cup Final was no less than gargantuan."

Nico Raskin recovers to rubber-stamp Rangers claims v Celtic

Although his failure to control a high ball led directly to Maeda – who went on to net the winning penalty – bursting through to turn the Gers' half-time lead on its head, Raskin was a revelation.

While his regular partner Connor Barron was kept on the bench for much of the match, Raskin excelled alongside goalscorer Mohamed Diomande in Clement's double-pivot as they twice pegged Celtic back.

Like Hagi, Raskin has indeed made himself one of the first names on his Belgian compatriot Clement's team sheet across recent weeks, solving the number six question which was left open in the summer.

Amid a huge summer rebuild – for much of which Raskin was nursing a pre-season injury –  the Bears failed to sign an out-and-out defensive midfielder, with only Barron brought in on a free transfer.

It remains to be seen what kind of funds Clement will have to spend in January, but with Raskin holding things down at the base in the biggest of games, he looks too good to be displaced at the moment.

In other Rangers news, Kasper Schmeichel could be in line for a ban after what he did during the penalty shoot-out at Hampden.

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