'I had it really bad': Rangers talisman lifts lid on troubled Ibrox spell as exit route emerges for 24 y/o

The Belgian international was one of the club’s standout performers last season, but found himself frozen out at the beginning of the current campaign by the ex-Rangers boss, with the 24-year-old omitted from the matchday squad for huge early-season games against Celtic and Hearts either side of the September international break.

However, when Martin was sacked just 123 days after his appointment following a 1-1 draw with Falkirk and replaced by Danny Rohl, the former Standard Liege player found himself restored to the starting XI, and has played a pivotal role in the Light Blues' rise up the table.

Just four points behind league leaders Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Raskin admits that he and his fellow teammates are in a much happier place under their new German head coach.

“I remember having some discussions about me never being able to play again at Ibrox,” said Raskin. “Now, being in this position and looking at a proper title race? It just feels good. I don’t think I’m the only one. I can see Tav [James Tavernier] now too, how he’s enjoying it. I can see a lot of players having fun on the pitch. It’s good to see everyone happy here, and everyone going in the same direction.

“You’ve got some good moments and some bad moments. I had it really bad at the beginning and everyone knows why. But it’s about now. I want to keep going with this team, keep winning and try to keep this momentum. We are going in the right direction and we just want to keep pushing forward.

“It wasn’t easy against Dundee on Sunday. Credit to them, they came to Ibrox and tried to play. But at the end we scored some goals, won the game, and we were so happy. We kept our victory run going which is good for us.

Meanwhile, while the club intends to hold on to Djeidi Gassama, Youssef Chermiti, and Emmanuel Fernandez amid strong interest in the trio’s services, Finland international Oliver Antman’s time at Rangers could be cut short after a potential route back to the Dutch Eredivisie emerged on Wednesday.

A £3.5million summer signing from Go Ahead Eagles, the 24-year-old has struggled to impress at Rangers, starting just six league games due to a combination of injury and lack of form. He remains highly rated in the Netherlands, though, based on his time at De Adelaarshorst.

Antman was rumoured to be on the verge of an exit just two weeks ago, with the loan signing of Andreas Skov Olsen said to be threatening his future at the club, though further reports claimed that head coach Danny Rohl planned to use him in his squad during the second half of the campaign as they look to push league leaders Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The winger was one of the continent’s most productive players in the second half of last season, ending the campaign behind only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Ousmane Dembele in goal contributions across Europe’s top leagues. However, he has registered just one league assist since his arrival at Rangers, and reports now claim Feyenoord are keeping an eye on his situation as interest grows from Chelsea and Marseille in key man Hadj Moussa.

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