RANGERS boss Russell Martin has dismissed any suggestion that star midfielder Nico Raskin has asked to leave the club.
Reports emerged online over the weekend claiming that the Belgian international had formally handed in a transfer request amid ongoing interest from abroad.
Martin spoke last week about how Raskin’s head may have been turned earlier in the summer, whilst also praising his attitude and the way he has since knuckled down.
But the Ibrox boss was emphatic in shooting down reports that Raskin had apparently informed the club of his intention to leave.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off showdown with Club Brugge in Glasgow, Martin said: ‘I’ve loved working with Nico, I think he’ll get better and better.
Nicolas Raskin has not asked to leave Rangers, according to manager Russell Martin
Russell Martin has backed Raskin to be a key player for Rangers this season
‘The only reason he wasn’t in the squad on Saturday (against Alloa) was for a rest. But he’s trained really well. I think he’s going to be a big player for us.
‘I said that from the beginning. I’ve also said it’s been a difficult summer for him and all that, but really, the last few weeks, I’ve loved the energy that Nico’s brought.
‘He’s been really good. We analysed his clips, me and him together, from the game against Plzen last Tuesday.
‘He is going to be really important for us. He will play tomorrow night and he’ll be a good player for us.
‘So, no, I’ve not heard anything (about him asking to leave). Not at all. He’s been brilliant. I’m pretty sure Kevin (Thelwell, sporting director) and Patrick (Stewart, chief executive) would have told me if we’d heard that sooner.’
Knowing that a £40million windfall is at stake if Rangers can secure Champions League football, Martin and his players will go up against a Brugge side who reached the last 16 in last season’s competition.
Whilst Rangers will be rated as underdogs by most observers, Martin doesn’t want his team to approach the match with that sort of mentality.
Rangers knocked out Czech side Plzen in the previous round of Champions League qualifying
He also believes qualifying for the Champions League would be transformational for the club, both in terms of finances and also accelerating the development of his new-look team.
Urging his players to seize the opportunity, he continued: ‘I don’t think we’d ever go into any game considering ourselves underdogs, for sure.
‘If we can qualify, I think the belief it would give the players would be massive. I think what it would do for the football club financially would be huge.
‘So I think if we were able to do it, which I really believe we can, if we can do it and qualify for it, I think it would be brilliant.
‘Someone asked me if we’ve got the squad depth and all that to sustain it, if we need to worry about it, I think let’s try and get in there first and qualify.
‘Then we’re building a squad that has to compete in Europe, whether it’s Europa League or the Champions League. So I think it would be incredibly exciting. It would help us a lot as a football club moving forward.
‘Not just financially, but what it would do for the players and their belief. And to then pit yourself against some of the best teams in the world would be a brilliant opportunity for us.
‘So we’re here to try and attack it as much as we can. I want the players to really seize the opportunity.
Rangers hope left-back Jayden Meghoma will be available against Club Brugge
‘Rather than feeling the weight of it (pressure and expectation), look at the other side. Look at how brilliant it would be if we can achieve this together.’
The main issues in terms of team selection will come up front and at left-back. Cyriel Dessers is rated as touch and go as he recovers from a knee injury, meaning that Danilo will probably get the nod.
Rangers are hopeful of pushing through the paperwork in order for new signing Jayden Meghoma to start at left-back, with Max Aarons also an option.
‘We think he (Meghoma) is going to be registered in time for tomorrow’s match,’ added Martin. ‘We hope so anyway, so we’ll have to wait and see. But yeah, that’s the hope, that he can be in the squad. We will see, today and yesterday he trained, so we’ll see if he’s ready to go.
‘Big Cyriel is probably the only concern. He’ll be touch and go. He’s responded really well to treatment. It was nowhere near as bad as we first feared. So if it’s not tomorrow, we expect him to be back for the weekend and next week.’
