Russell Martin suspects Rangers’ Nico Raskin was unsettled by summer approaches

Rangers manager Russell Martin suspects Nico Raskin was unsettled by approaches this summer.

But he praised the Belgium midfielder’s “incredible” reaction to being left out of the team.

Raskin was dropped for Rangers’ 3-0 Champions League qualifying win over Viktoria Plzen last week after failing to have his usual impact in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell, having started in a wider position than he has previously been utilised.

However, Martin felt Raskin made a “big, big difference” when he came on in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Dundee and believes the 24-year-old is shaking off transfer speculation.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s second leg against the Czech side, Martin said: “What Nico did last season, rightly or wrongly, I can’t have a feeling about. I can only judge on right now. And he played brilliantly on Saturday.

“He came out of the team for reasons that me and him spoke about. And his reaction has been top, like really, really brilliant. And that’s all you can ever ask for.

“There’s been a bit of uncertainty about him this summer, for sure. Not from people ringing us, but I think from people ringing him, definitely.

“So I think that’s affected his approach. Not in terms of professionalism, but he’s a young man, of course it’s going to have an impact at some point.

“And then we’ve had a discussion and since he came out of the team, he’s been a different guy. Incredible.”

Martin added: “Hopefully we can get to the end of the window, he’s played brilliantly, the window shuts, he’s still here. And then we can keep improving and keep kicking on.”

Meanwhile, Martin cast doubt on whether Rangers would postpone their trip to St Mirren on August 24 if they progress on Tuesday.

The SPFL had previously indicated Rangers would postpone the Paisley encounter if they made the Champions League play-offs, and the Light Blues are well on course to face either Club Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg.

But Martin said: “No decision has been made either way. I think we were told that the option would be there. I think the plan has always been to play the game, unless… Depending on what happened on the Tuesday night, if we get through this and all that stuff. So it’s been flexible.”

Some fans questioned the wisdom of postponing the game as Celtic have confirmed they will play Livingston on August 23.

Saturday’s result, plus a red card for Nasser Djiga, means the Hoops could potentially have the chance to move 10 points clear on August 31 when they face Rangers, who would be missing the centre-back through suspension if the St Mirren game is postponed.

But Martin said: “The league table, this early on, will not dictate what we do with the game, honestly.

“Someone mentioned to me this morning, this can happen, this permutation and all this stuff. That’s just not something to get caught up in.

“So at the minute, I expect we’ll play it. And if that changes, because for whatever reason we feel it will help us….

“We have to win this game first as well.”

Rangers will still be without Mikey Moore but expect to have the on-loan Tottenham winger registered to face Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday, while Hamza Igamane and Thelo Aasgaard are also in line to return from injury in that game.