AliousKris Boyd Urges Martin to “Play Two-Faced” With Raskin as Belgian’s Return Sparks Rangers Revival — But Leaves Barron’s Future in Doubt**
Rangers’ 2–0 victory over Hibernian in the Premier Sports Cup has secured them a place in the semi-finals, but the win has done little to ease the wider pressure on manager Russell Martin. With the club sitting 11th in the Scottish Premiership and still without a league win, his position remains precarious.
Yet, Saturday’s triumph offered a lifeline — and it came courtesy of Nicolas Raskin. The Belgian midfielder delivered a standout performance, opening the scoring and playing a crucial role in the second goal. His man-of-the-match display was a stark reminder of his importance to the team, and it may have temporarily spared Martin from the sack.
This turnaround follows a turbulent month in which Martin and Raskin’s relationship had reportedly broken down, leading to the player being dropped from matchday squads. However, after clear-the-air talks, Raskin was restored to the starting lineup and immediately proved his worth.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has weighed in, urging Martin to adopt a pragmatic approach in handling Raskin. Speaking on the *Go Ballistic* podcast, Boyd argued that great managers often need to “wear more faces than Big Ben,” suggesting Martin should put personal issues aside and maintain a professional façade for the sake of results. Boyd stressed that while their personalities may clash, both men rely heavily on one another: Martin needs Raskin to secure wins, while Raskin needs Martin to showcase his quality and remain in contention for Belgium’s World Cup squad.
Raskin’s return has been warmly welcomed by Rangers fans, who had grown frustrated at his exclusion during the team’s struggles. However, it complicates matters for Connor Barron. The 23-year-old midfielder impressed when given opportunities during Raskin’s absence, even earning applause from supporters for his tireless display against Hearts. Martin’s decision to substitute him that day was met with boos, underlining how valued his contributions are.
Barron, like Raskin, was retained over the summer despite transfer interest from Bologna. But with Raskin now firmly back in the starting XI, Barron risks seeing his development stall due to reduced playing time. While Rangers fans are delighted with Raskin’s influence, the situation presents Martin with another selection headache.
For now, Raskin’s reintroduction has stabilized the team and offered Martin a reprieve, but the underlying challenges — managing personalities, maintaining balance in midfield, and finding consistent league form — remain unresolved.
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