Rangers fans have watched their team stumble out of the gate this season, with the pressure mounting at Ibrox as results have failed to meet lofty expectations. As of late September 2025, the Glasgow giants have managed just four victories in their opening 14 matches across all competitions—a stark contrast to the club’s storied history of domestic dominance. The league campaign, in particular, has been a source of frustration, with Rangers remaining winless after five games, leaving supporters and pundits alike scratching their heads and calling for answers.
Manager Russell Martin, who arrived with hopes of revitalizing the squad, now finds himself under intense scrutiny. After a 1-0 defeat to Genk in their Europa League opener—a match where Mohamed Diomande’s red card forced the team to play with ten men for over half the game—the calls for change have only grown louder. According to Football Insider, as of September 26, 2025, Martin is edging closer to the sack, with his position on increasingly shaky ground.
But while on-field woes have dominated headlines, off-field drama has also taken center stage at Ibrox. The future of Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin has been a major talking point among fans and insiders. Raskin, considered one of the best players in Scotland last season, found himself out of favor following a reported bust-up with Martin. There was widespread speculation that he could depart the club in the January transfer window, especially after reports on September 13, 2025, suggested he might leave if he failed to win back the manager’s trust.
Yet, in a twist that could prove pivotal for Rangers’ fortunes, Raskin has recently returned to the starting lineup. His inclusion in the squad has not only sparked hope among supporters but also signaled a possible reconciliation between the player and his boss. Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast noted, “If Raskin and Martin have resolved their differences, there’s a real chance that he could end up staying at Rangers to the end of the season at least.” The podcast went on to highlight Raskin’s importance: “There’s no getting away from it, they’re a better team when Raskin is involved.”
Indeed, Raskin’s presence in midfield has often been the difference-maker for Rangers. The club’s struggles in his absence were clear, and his return has been seen as a crucial boost. “As I said, think Raskin will be a key man for Martin in the next few weeks because they’ll definitely need him if they want to improve their fortunes. He was one of the best players in Scotland last year and is crucial in that Rangers side as well. As long as he’s playing, he’ll be quite content at Ibrox,” the podcast host added.
The situation surrounding Raskin has not gone unnoticed by clubs beyond Scotland’s borders. Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown revealed in May 2025 that Premier League and European giants have been monitoring the Belgian’s situation closely. That interest hasn’t faded, with several clubs reportedly ready to pounce should Raskin become available in the January window. While away on international duty with Belgium, Raskin himself admitted, “My situation at the club is a bit complicated. I’m going to go back, do the best I can to sort it out.”
Despite the swirling rumors and the very real possibility of a mid-season exit, Rangers managed to keep hold of Raskin during the summer transfer window. The club is now hopeful that his reintegration into the squad will help stabilize both their performances and the locker room atmosphere. As one Football Insider report put it, “The bust-up between Raskin and Martin now seems to have been resolved, or at least cast aside in favour of doing what is best for the team.”
All eyes turned to the team sheet on September 28, 2025, when Russell Martin named his side for a crucial league match against Livingston. Rangers were desperate for their first league win of the season, and Martin made three changes from the side that lost to Genk. Jack Butland kept his spot in goal, and Jayden Meghoma, on loan from Brentford, retained his place at left-back. Importantly, Nicolas Raskin was once again named in the starting XI, signaling Martin’s renewed faith in the Belgian midfielder.
Bojan Miovski was selected to lead the line ahead of Youssef Chermiti, as Martin continued to tinker with his attacking options in search of a formula that could break Rangers’ domestic duck. The full starting lineup for the Livingston clash read: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma, Raskin, Barron, Aasgaard, Gassama, Antman, and Miovski. On the bench, Martin had options in Kelly, Aarons, Rothwell, Chermiti, Diomande, Bajrami, Djiga, Moore, and Curtis.
The mood in the Rangers camp ahead of the Livingston encounter was one of quiet determination. Jayden Meghoma summed up the team’s mindset: “We’re always attempting to win the game, and that’s what we have to do against Livingston. Every game has its different challenges and poses a different threat. We know we’re coming up against them and we’re ready for it.” Livingston, for their part, hadn’t tasted victory since the beginning of August, offering Rangers a golden opportunity to finally get their league campaign up and running.
Of course, the stakes for Martin couldn’t be higher. With each passing week without a win, the pressure mounts, and speculation about his future intensifies. Yet, the manager’s decision to bring Raskin back into the fold could prove to be a masterstroke—if the Belgian can recapture his best form and help steady the ship.
For now, the situation at Ibrox remains fluid. Raskin’s future, once thought all but decided, is now back in play, with both club and player seemingly committed to making the partnership work—at least until the end of the season. The January transfer window still looms, and with interest from England and across Europe, Rangers’ resolve may yet be tested. But as things stand, Raskin’s return to the starting XI is a rare bright spot in an otherwise turbulent start to the season.
As the action against Livingston unfolds and the team seeks that elusive first league victory, all eyes will be on Raskin, Martin, and the rest of the squad to see if this latest chapter signals the beginning of a Rangers revival—or simply the calm before another storm at Ibrox.
